President Trump recently accused China of attempting to acquire American voter data. His portrayal of this activity suggested it was a significant scandal, although China’s interest in such data has been known for years. Voter data in the U.S. can often be accessed online or purchased. While this information may reveal details about voters, it does not enable manipulation of votes.

Trump claimed that China engaged in the “largest compromise of election data in history,” alleging the illicit collection of 220 million voter files since the 2020 election cycle. The specifics of this claim remain unclear, particularly how the figure was determined. The data might include basic details like names, addresses, and phone numbers. However, China has previously accessed more sensitive information, like government personnel records, which hold greater significance than voter files.

The president’s assertion was among various claims he made, some of which were exaggerated or lacked a firm basis in reality. His administration released numerous documents, which took a more moderated stance on China and other aspects of election security.

During the 2020 election, U.S. intelligence agencies predominantly believed that China was not trying to sway the presidential election’s outcome. However, a dissenting opinion existed, suggesting that Beijing preferred Mr. Trump to lose his re-election campaign.