President Donald Trump will deliver a live televised address Thursday evening at 9pm ET, with growing speculation that he plans to make significant announcements on election security and the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump has fueled the anticipation himself, telling reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he has "really big news" coming, without elaborating on specifics. "It doesn't get bigger, because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country," he said.
The focus on election security reflects Trump's continued fixation on the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden. He has repeatedly and falsely claimed the election was stolen through widespread voter fraud. Recently, he appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, a move that surprised observers given Pulte's lack of intelligence experience. Pulte previously led the federal housing finance agency and has been instrumental in seeking intelligence documents to support Trump's disputed claims about potential interference in the 2020 vote.
Trump has also been pushing Congress to pass the Save America Act, legislation that would require strict voter identification for elections. The bill remains stalled in the legislative chamber.
The address also comes as Trump abandoned a ceasefire agreement with Iran last month and resumed military strikes aimed at weakening Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz. Commercial shipping through the waterway has been largely blocked since fighting began on February 28, driving up global energy prices substantially.
White House officials have suggested the speech could cover multiple topics, describing it as "a potpourri." Trump previously addressed the nation on Iran in early April, roughly a month after the war started. That speech drew sharp criticism, particularly for his threat to bomb Iran "back to the stone ages." Another address before Christmas focused on the economy but was panned by commentators who objected to his aggressive tone and rapid-fire delivery.
Set-piece televised addresses from the White House have been relatively rare under Trump compared to previous administrations. These formal speeches typically involve reading from a teleprompter in a controlled format, an approach that contrasts with Trump's typical speaking style, which frequently deviates from prepared remarks and extends at considerable length.
White House advisers have indicated that Trump may deliver more primetime addresses going forward. "We want to get into the rhythm of doing this," one aide told Axios. "It's powerful when you give primetime speeches that give a sense of the importance to what he's saying."
Author James Rodriguez: "When a president teases 'really big news' before a primetime address, the smart bet is usually on something designed to dominate the news cycle for days."
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