Trump falsely alleges voting machines are "vulnerable" and "easily compromised"
President Trump alleged voting machines and ballot-counting systems are "extremely exposed to attack" — but experts say voting machines are subject to intense controls.
Updated on: July 16, 2026 / 11:52 PM EDT / CBS News
In a primetime speech Thursday , President Trump alleged voting machines and ballot-counting systems are "extremely exposed to attack," pointing to intelligence that was declassified and released by the White House — following years of similar claims about voting machines.
But some of the newly released documents are tied to a company that largely isn't used in the United States, and experts say voting machines are subject to intense controls.
"They're vulnerable and they're easily compromised, and people within our government knew that," the president said during the speech.
Mr. Trump later pointed to CIA intelligence about a plot to use voting machines to "do a big number in favor of the corrupt Maduro regime in Venezuela," referring to voter fraud in that country.
However, the Venezuela-related intelligence released by the White House focuses on election systems made by the company Smartmatic — and that company's technology is not used in the United States , aside from in Los Angeles County.