Berliner Tagesspiegel: America's "Nightmare of Election Security" Is Not China, But America's Own President
Multiple German media outlets have expressed diverse concerns regarding Trump’s nationwide address.
The Berlin-based Der Tagesspiegel stated: This speech was supposed to center on “free and fair elections,” yet Trump has instead intensified public doubts about the electoral process. In nearly 30 minutes, the 80-year-old president did everything in his power to cast suspicion on America’s election system. He told the audience that the U.S. election system is even worse than those in any “third-world country.” However, this time he did not blame the opposition; instead, he directed all the blame toward China. Trump accused Beijing of election fraud and of committing “the largest election data theft in history.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry immediately rejected these allegations. Trump also claimed that U.S. intelligence agencies had concealed China’s role in the American election and said relevant evidence would soon be made public—but he provided no specifics. After this comprehensive attack on Thursday, it is nearly impossible to imagine Trump accepting a Democratic victory in the upcoming midterm elections. The bitter truth left behind is this: America’s “nightmare of election security” is not China—it is, quite simply, America’s own president.
Märkische Oderzeitung (Frankfurt (Oder)) commented: Trump possesses an extraordinary ability to distort reality. With this highly anticipated television address, he has once again launched a new round of distortion. He clearly understands that a war against Iran could no longer be packaged as a success before the midterm elections, and the Republican Party may well lose as a result. Thus, he has already begun laying the groundwork for the next phase—preemptively questioning the legitimacy of the upcoming election. He will keep repeating this narrative until election day; after the election, he will raise the volume even higher. He will continuously repeat it until his supporters believe it—or at least are willing to believe it. Incidentally, if Trump’s opponents become furious over these absurd statements, it will only help him. It will further solidify his supporters’ belief in his claims.
Frankfurter Rundschau stated: Trump’s release of so-called “classified documents” alleging Chinese interference in Biden’s election victory actually undermines his own argument. Trump released supposedly classified materials related to the 2020 U.S. election and used prime-time television to question the legitimacy of America’s elections while once again denying his defeat by former President Joe Biden in 2020. However, according to reports by CNN, a review of the documents released by the White House revealed that these materials do not support Trump’s claim—that there is no evidence showing that any U.S. election, including the 2020 presidential election, was altered due to foreign interference or election fraud. At the time, U.S. intelligence assessments concluded that China had not taken coordinated actions to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, primarily because Chinese leadership viewed such actions as carrying excessive risk and not worth pursuing.
Rhein-Zeitung (Koblenz) noted: Trump barely mentioned the real issues troubling American citizens—such as inflation, soaring food prices, and economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, the war against Iran, which he himself initiated and gradually lost control of, is precisely a major cause of today’s tense situation. Now even Trump’s supporters admit that the president has completely misjudged the situation in the Middle East. The Iranian regime has grown stronger as a result, the Strait of Hormuz has become a strategic weapon, and the global economy has suffered consequences. Trump attempts to divert public attention from these outcomes and spread distrust. His goal is to mobilize his base. This is exactly his political calculation—and it is deeply unsettling.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871200576424963/
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