White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a vague preview of President Trump’s primetime speech set for Thursday night, saying he will argue that U.S. elections are not as secure as many believe. Speaking to reporters, Leavitt framed the address as a call for reforms, including the SAVE America Act, without providing specific evidence.
“I think all Americans – Democrat, Republican – should agree that we are the greatest country in the history of the world. We should have the safest and most secure elections in the history of the world,” Leavitt said. “And what the president will be speaking about tonight will show you that perhaps that is not the case, and we need to make some adjustments moving forward, including the SAVE America Act.”
The preview comes amid ongoing tensions with Iran and a budget battle on Capitol Hill, as noted in Trump's scheduled address on election integrity. Leavitt pushed back against questions about why Trump continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen, dismissing suggestions that the speech is more about past grievances than current policy priorities.
“You’re jumping ahead to a conclusion in the speech before even hearing it yourself,” she said. “I think that everyone should tune in tonight, including the people in this room, and you should report on the president’s speech and the findings that he is going to reveal in the speech with a little bit of honesty and a little bit of integrity because…it will shock you if you have an honest eye listening to the president tonight.”
Leavitt insisted that “everything” Trump says will be backed by evidence, though the president has provided no proof for his claims that the 2020 election was rigged, and courts have repeatedly dismissed such assertions. Analysts warn that Trump's election rigging campaign threatens democracy.
It remains unclear whether major networks and cable news outlets will carry Trump’s address. Some lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have called on them to refuse airtime. “I don’t think we should be contributing to any platforming of lies about our elections,” she told reporters on Capitol Hill. “Many news outlets often times may receive transcripts, and I think we have an ethical obligation to not air things that undermine our elections are not rooted in facts.”
Leavitt urged networks to broadcast the speech, arguing that the American people deserve to hear directly from the president. “I think that mainstream media should air the president’s speech and allow the American people to draw their own opinions from it,” she said. “Again, it’s important that the American public hears directly from the president of the United States on a topic that, to your point, is very near and dear to the hearts of many Americans across the country.”
The speech is expected to draw sharp partisan reactions, with Sen. Jon Ossoff already slamming Trump as a 'sore loser'. Leavitt’s briefing also came as the White House deals with other controversies, including the suspension of an aide who bet on Trump speeches.
