An unverified report circulating Monday suggests President Donald Trump could use his Thursday primetime address to challenge the legitimacy of Georgia’s two Democratic U.S. senators, though the White House has not confirmed the claim.
Trump announced on Truth Social that he would address the nation Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern but did not specify the topic. The White House has released no official agenda for the speech.
According to the unconfirmed report citing unnamed Georgia sources, Trump intends to declare Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are “illegitimate because of fraud” during the nationally televised remarks. Separate reporting from CNBC, citing unnamed White House officials, indicates Trump plans to discuss newly declassified intelligence about alleged foreign interference in the 2020 election.
What Prompted the Reports
The Trump administration has renewed focus on Georgia’s 2020 election procedures in recent weeks. Federal authorities reopened investigations into aspects of Georgia’s election administration, including ballot handling and other matters officials say warrant additional review.
Earlier this year, FBI agents executed a search at Fulton County’s election warehouse as part of a federal investigation examining alleged deficiencies in the county’s 2020 election handling. Fulton County officials have denied wrongdoing and challenged portions of the investigation in court.
The Response from Georgia Democrats
Ossoff accused Trump of rehashing previously rejected claims, writing on social media that “Donald Trump’s spiral continues” and that the president “is afraid to lose the midterms.” He added, “The failed president will reheat debunked election conspiracy theories and tell bizarre new lies to deny his 2020 defeat and attack voting rights.”
“Donald Trump is at war with our democracy, and Georgia is ground zero,” Ossoff wrote. “But this is John Lewis’ Georgia. We are not intimidated. We are not moved.”
What Comes Next
Democratic officials have rejected the Trump administration’s election efforts, noting that Georgia’s results were confirmed through multiple recounts, audits and court proceedings. Ossoff and Warnock won their 2020 runoff elections, becoming Georgia’s first two Democratic senators in more than two decades.
Until Trump delivers his address or the White House releases additional details, no official confirmation exists that Thursday’s speech will include any declaration regarding Georgia’s senators. Should the president address the issue, the remarks and any supporting evidence are likely to receive immediate scrutiny from lawmakers, election officials and legal experts.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Political staff contributed to this report.
