President Donald Trump has accused members of the US intelligence community of running a "shadow government" that allegedly concealed evidence of Chinese attempts to influence American elections. The claim, made in a post on Truth Social, follows the release of newly declassified emails that Trump says expose officials boasting about suppressing information on Chinese election interference. The allegation adds to a series of Trump claims this week concerning election integrity and intelligence agency conduct.

Trump has separately released declassified election intelligence he says reveals "shocking vulnerabilities" in the US voting system, and his administration has raised concerns about noncitizen voter registration in several key states. The president has also linked the intelligence dispute to his broader push for stricter voting rules, including photo voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements, which he says are needed before he will sign a pending housing bill. Full details of the declassified emails and specific individuals implicated were not disclosed in the material available.