Following a highly anticipated speech promising major revelations about the 2020 election, Donald Trump's claims of foreign interference and "deep state" cover-ups failed to impress many, but galvanized his most fervent supporters. Conspiracy theorists are now suggesting the speech sets the stage for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act.
Trump's address on Thursday night featured broad accusations against China and repeated debunked claims about non-citizen voting, with a White House document release presented as proof. However, the files did not contain the evidence to substantiate his assertions.
Despite the lack of concrete proof, loyal followers hailed the speech as a significant event. Election denier Patrick Byrne described it as a "grand slam," even comparing it to the release of the JFK files. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, echoed this sentiment, stating, "The deep state is shitting a brick right now."
The core of the conspiracy theory is that Trump's speech is intended to lay the groundwork for invoking the Insurrection Act. This law could potentially allow the president to deploy the military during elections, though the full extent of such powers remains unclear. Figures like Lara Logan, formerly of CBS News, have called the speech "a reckoning" and part of a "much bigger plan."
Many election deniers believe this plan includes pushing Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, and if that fails, Trump will resort to more extreme measures. Some, like a member of the Sarasota Patriots on Telegram, suggest Trump will use the Insurrection Act to secure polling locations with military and federal law enforcement if necessary. Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers shared Jacob Creech's post, stating this is "exactly what'll happen. You're watching it in REAL TIME."
Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, a key figure in the election denial movement, called for immediate arrests based on Trump's words, targeting CIA and NSA directors for treason without providing evidence.
Experts tracking the election denial movement were not surprised. Alexandra Chandler of Protect Democracy, a former intelligence community member, stated, "This wasn't about 2020 or national security. It was about deputizing the foot soldiers who will be asked to deny the 2026 results if their side loses in November."
Election officials and voting experts largely dismissed Trump's claims. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar called it "all bullshit," while Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin labeled the speech "gibberish" and "drivel."
Even John Solomon, a conservative journalist appointed to review election interference documents at the White House, failed to back Trump's assertions. Solomon admitted to reporters that the intelligence community has "zero evidence that a foreign power flipped a vote in 2020, 2022 or 2024" and stated he was "still researching" if the 2020 election results were accurate.
