Trump says Thursday primetime address will focus on elections
President Donald Trump said his trump primetime address thursday at 9 p.m. ET will center on "free and fair elections" and include "really big news." The Washington Post reports the speech will use reexamined government files to argue election infrastructure has vulnerabilities. Former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori urged networks not to air the address, calling it a "bunch of lies."
Key Takeaways
- Trump announced a "Speech to the Nation" for Thursday at 9 p.m. ET in a Monday social media post.
- He told reporters Tuesday the address will focus on elections plus "a couple of other things."
- The Washington Post says reexamined files will highlight alleged election infrastructure vulnerabilities.
- Former prosecutor Ankush Khardori warned networks against airing what he called a "bunch of lies."
- The prime-time format gives Trump a direct platform ahead of ongoing election-policy debates.
What will Trump say in his Thursday primetime address?
Trump previewed the speech Tuesday while meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in the Oval Office. When asked whether the address concerns elections, he replied: "Well, I'd rather save it, it will concern that subject, and we'll have a couple of other things to say, but I'd rather save it."
He added that "it's really big news" and that "our country has to shape up." Trump said, "It doesn't get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country," and promised "a very big announcement."
According to The Washington Post, Trump is planning a prime-time address that will use findings from reexamined government files to argue the country's election infrastructure has vulnerabilities. Two people briefed on the plan described the focus to the paper.
Why does Trump's election speech matter now?
Prime-time presidential addresses carry unusual visibility. Trump announced the "Speech to the Nation" on Monday without detailing its location or full agenda, leaving Washington to interpret his election framing.
The Washington Post linked the planned remarks to 2020 election allegations, reporting that Trump intends to spotlight vulnerabilities in election infrastructure based on reexamined government records. That framing places voting systems and digital election security at the center of a nationally televised event.
For readers tracking governance and institutional risk, the address sits at the intersection of political messaging and questions about how election technology is secured. Follow ongoing coverage in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section for updates on policy moves affecting digital infrastructure and markets.
Should networks carry Trump's primetime address live?
Not all observers agree the speech deserves blanket broadcast coverage. On MS NOW, former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori argued networks should not air Trump's primetime address, dismissing the expected content as a "bunch of lies."
His warning reflects a broader media debate: whether live, uncut carriage amplifies disputed claims or serves a public-interest duty when a sitting president speaks. CNN noted Trump offered few specifics beyond timing when he first announced the Thursday slot.
Networks typically weigh precedent, news value, and fact-checking capacity before clearing prime-time airtime. Khardori's critique suggests at least some legal analysts see this address as a credibility test for broadcasters as much as a political event.
When and where can viewers watch?
Trump said the address will air Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. He announced it in a social media post on Monday, using the title "Speech to the Nation." Further logistical details were not immediately confirmed in reporting from CNN.
Until Trump reveals more, the confirmed elements are timing, the elections theme, and his promise of additional announcements. The Washington Post's reporting on reexamined files offers the clearest preview of substance beyond Trump's own tease of "really, really big news."