U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to focus on election security and voting systems during a nationally televised address Thursday night, raising the prospect of renewed scrutiny over claims related to the 2020 presidential election.
The address, scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, comes as Trump urges Republicans to approve stricter federal voting laws ahead of the November midterm elections. He has indicated the speech will include discussion of elections and voting machines.
The prime-time address also comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East. After previously expressing optimism that the United States would quickly achieve its objectives in the conflict with Iran, hostilities have intensified in recent days.
U.S. forces carried out additional strikes early Thursday on a broader range of targets, including a vessel accused of violating a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Iran responded by launching attacks against U.S. allies in the region, further escalating the conflict.
Meanwhile, Trump has reaffirmed his support for aggressive immigration enforcement, saying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers should continue conducting vehicle stops despite recent deadly encounters.
His comments followed reports that ICE was considering limiting most traffic stops after three people were killed during encounters with immigration officers within the past week, including motorists in Texas and Maine who were shot inside their vehicles.
It remains unclear whether ICE will proceed with the proposed changes or continue using traffic stops as part of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy.
