Trump says U.S. also acts against China as he downplays alleged election meddling
President Trump told reporters the United States will discuss China’s alleged election interference and noted that both countries take actions against each other.
President Donald Trump said on July 21 that he intends to raise the issue of Chinese election interference with Beijing’s leaders, while also suggesting the United States engages in similar activities toward China.
"Well, we'll talk to them about it. It took place a long time ago," Trump told a reporter from the Oval Office. "I think China's maybe a little bit different today than it was then. But look, they do things. And we do things to them. I'll be honest. We do things to them, too. It's not a one-way street. But we'll be talking to them."
He did not specify what actions the United States might take. The remarks came five days after Trump’s televised address in which he claimed China had compromised 220 million voter records and attempted to influence past elections. Trump also alleged that Chinese officials tried to sway U.S. business leaders and journalists against him.
Intelligence assessments released in March 2021 concluded that China did not attempt to interfere with the 2020 election, though it considered the possibility. The report noted that China had not deployed any operation to change the outcome.
Trump’s comments echo earlier statements about a “deep state” within the U.S. government that he said concealed information about Chinese activities. The president used the occasion to warn about election security ahead of the November vote.