Trump’s echoing of potential Chinese interference while labeling Russian influence a ‘partisan hoax’ is causing concern.
President Donald Trump retweeted a baseless claim that China is interfering to help ensure a victory for former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump tweeted, “Of course they want Biden. I have taken $Billions from China and given it to our Farmers and U.S. Treasury. China would own the U.S. if Biden & Hunter got in!”
The tweet was accompanied by the sharing of an article about a radio interview of author and columnist Gordon Chang posted on Breitbart, during which he insinuates that the Chinese Communist Party is “trying to make life very difficult” for Trump by “fueling” violent Black Lives Matter protests.
“From what little evidence we have about China’s troll-farm activity, with its bots and with all of its others, they seem to be favoring Vice President Biden, trying to make life very difficult for President Trump — as well as fueling the protests, of course,” Chang said on Sunday’s broadcast of “The Cats Roundtable” on New York’s WABC 770 AM. “I think that Beijing has decided that it’s voting for the Democratic Party candidate.”
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U.S. intelligence did assess last month that China and Iran both prefer that Trump loses in November, however, they have offered no evidence that either country is actively working behind the scenes to influence America’s election.
In a public statement last month, Bill Evanina, the U.S.’ top intelligence official, wrote that while “China will continue to weigh the risks and benefits of aggressive action,” to date, the country is more focused on public efforts like criticizing the Trump administration.
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The intelligence community maintains that Russia is still actively working to get Trump re-elected in efforts similar to 2016, which include the frequent use of social media bots and spreading misinformation, like describing Black Lives Matter protests as violent. A report from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project released last week showed that nearly 93% of Black Lives Matter demonstrations decrying police shootings were peaceful.
Trump’s amplification of potential Chinese interference while continuing to label Russian influence a “partisan hoax,” is causing concerns for Democratic leaders. Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, accused Attorney General William Barr of “lying” to the American public when he told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that China is more actively meddling in the election than Russia.
“Bill Barr is just flat-out lying to the American people,” Schiff said, “and it’s tragic, but it’s as simple as that.”
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