After the 2020 election, officials appointed by Donald Trump declared the results fair and legitimate, free of major fraud or foreign interference. Despite this, Trump, once again in the position of influence, aims to challenge this narrative. He prepares to address the nation, reiterating his unfounded claim that the election was stolen.

Trump appointed allies who support his false narratives. His administration’s nominees often avoid directly acknowledging Biden’s victory, vaguely referring to Biden receiving the most electoral votes. This reluctance underscores how alignment with Trump’s unfounded claims has become a requirement for his appointees.

The former president promotes conspiracy theories about foreign intervention in voting systems, which have led to lawsuits against his supporters for defamation. Analysts fear his next speech will spread the same falsehoods, despite consistent findings that the election was secure and fair.

Data from various sources, including intelligence assessments, audits, recounts, and court cases, consistently reflect no widespread fraud. Even William Barr, Trump’s attorney general in 2020, stated there was no significant fraud, a statement that resulted in backlash from Trump. Further, an intelligence report completed in Trump’s last days and signed by him claimed no foreign interference in the election outcome.

In his return to office, Trump initiated reviews of the 2020 election in key counties like Fulton in Georgia and Maricopa in Arizona. These investigations, led by Kurt Olsen, a known election conspiracy theorist, have yet to uncover any evidence supporting fraud claims. Despite utilizing taxpayer resources extensively, these probes have not produced any results that challenge the 2020 election outcome.

Conspiracy theories about foreign manipulation, such as those involving Venezuela, persist but have faced legal challenges. Voting machine companies have won significant libel settlements, including a $787.5 million payout from Fox News. Similarly, Newsmax and One America News have reached settlements over these unsubstantiated claims.

David Becker, a former Department of Justice lawyer, observed that these patterns of conspiracy reflect public allegations without factual support, often failing in court where proof is required. He emphasizes the importance of applying rigorous scrutiny to any new claims regarding election fraud.