Republicans, Democrats react on social media to Trump's speech on election integrity

(TNND) — Politicians from both sides of the aisle reacted Thursday night to President Donald Trump's address focused on alleged vulnerabilities in the U.S. election system, including what he said were efforts going back before the 2020 election by China to undermine his presidency and American voters.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Leader John Thune, the top Republicans in Congress, didn't immediately react on social media to Trump's speech.

Mike Lee, a Republican senator from Utah, said on X after Trump's speech that "American elections should not be less secure than Olive Garden's endless pasta."

On the Democratic side, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of trying to "lay the groundwork to rig the 2026 elections and undermine democracy."

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House, took to social media to call Trump "a feeble, unhinged conspiracy-peddling 80-year old failed President."

And Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, posted a video, saying he watched "the ramblings of a mad king" in Trump's national address.

"This was a legitimate 25th Amendment moment," Newsom said, referencing the constitutional mechanism for dealing with a president who is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office because of incapacity.

Newsom's posted video carried the message: "This is a 25th Amendment moment. I just watched the ramblings of a mad king and what else can I say — the only thing missing was tin foil. Donald Trump is trying to rig our elections and we have to stop him. Show up and VOTE this November."

Newsom said foreign interference in elections is a real concern, but he discounted what Trump said as "make-believe."

"He knows he's going to lose," Newsom said. "He needs to rig the election before one vote was cast."