President Donald Trump's Thursday speech to the nation was short and compact. The new teleprompter person was a bit rusty, but he pulled it off without too many hiccups. As expected, the hiccups came from Democrats and the NeverTrumpers, who had already decided what the substance of the speech would be before Trump even uttered a word.
The takeaways from the Democrats and the Left: Trump is a raving lunatic and is setting the stage to steal the 2026 midterms.
And they accuse Trump of being a conspiracy theorist?
Democrat Socialist Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) teed it off, deciding five minutes into the speech that Trump was desperately trying to prop up his "dictator persona."
The “big speech” Trump is about to give is just another desperate attempt to prop up his wannabe dictator persona by spreading more lies about our elections.
— Rep. Adelita Grijalva (@Rep_Grijalva) July 17, 2026
We aren’t going to buy it…🤷🏽♀️
These are the DSA-types who want to rip apart the Constitution, abolish the presidency and the Electoral College. Sounds like that's more dictator-y than anything Trump was saying tonight.
Speaking of dictators, Gavin Newsom, the Governor King of California who is jonesing to be the 2028 Democrat nominee for president, was in Trump's mind and knows what he believes in: authoritarianism.
Trump does not believe in fair and free elections.
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) July 17, 2026
He believes in one thing: authoritarianism.
Then, from another account (he has five of them?), he called Trump's speech "the ramblings of a mad king," and claimed that Trump would rig 2026 to his benefit. Newsom encouraged everyone to "organize, show up, and vote!"
Tonight, America watched the ramblings of a mad king.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 17, 2026
Donald Trump’s address was not about the last election — it was THIS one.
Before a single vote has been cast, he’s already laying the groundwork to rig this election and convince YOU not to trust the results if they don’t go…
Tonight, America watched the ramblings of a mad king.
Donald Trump’s address was not about the last election — it was THIS one.
Before a single vote has been cast, he’s already laying the groundwork to rig this election and convince YOU not to trust the results if they don’t go his way.
This is what authoritarians do. Don’t fall for it.
Organize. Mobilize. SHOW UP and VOTE in November!
This is the same governor who stomped on the California constitution and a bipartisan redistricting committee which the voters chose, in order to redraw electoral maps to benefit Democrats. Now that President Trump is pushing election integrity, Newsom signed a law preventing any law enforcement, including federal election officials, from being able to access the voter rolls or voting technology without a court order.
As usual, Gavin is accusing someone else of what he is guilty of.
The Lincoln Project had this brilliant hot take.
Donald Trump is declaring war on America's election officials.
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) July 17, 2026
Read More: Trump Unleashes Election Intel: China Stole 220 Million Voter Files, Deep State Cover-Up
New: Trump's Primetime Speech Snubbed by NBC and ABC
Same with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), who also accused Trump of wanting to rig 2026.
Well folks, as expected, Trump revealed essentially nothing new.
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) July 17, 2026
His speech was just lies & long-debunked conspiracies about the 2020 election.
This is all just a prelude to interfere in our midterms — don’t fall for it.
Then Warner went on CBS, which only aired the portion of the speech they felt was relevant, to claim he was embarrassed for the president and demanded "responsible journalists" to push back on it. Since CBS initially was not going to air the speech, I'm not sure they could be lumped into that "responsible journalist" category Warner is talking about.
Warner on CBS: I was embarrassed that the president went before our country and networks like yours carried this as news as opposed to a rehash of falsehoods. It is incumbent upon you and any responsible journalist to pushback on this. pic.twitter.com/n8zZhWzheX
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 17, 2026
MS NOW what is their name? Did the same thing: cut away from pertinent information in the speech when they didn't like the substance of it.
WATCH:
MSDNC — which a few call "MS NOW" but many others call "group therapy for the mentally deranged" — cut out immediately as @POTUS started to describe shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 17, 2026
ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. pic.twitter.com/PVb4kLeOVF
There was also a plethora of "I listened to the speech so you don't have to," takes. As a citizen of the United States, it would behoove you to listen to it for yourself and make your own judgments. But pompous sows like Lawrence O'Donnell only want you to absorb their impressions.
I watched the whole thing so you didn’t have to.
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) July 17, 2026
It was a 25 minute deranged pitch for one piece of legislation that has no chance of passing. @TheLastWord 10pm
And riddle me this: if Trump is intent on rigging the 2026 midterms, you would think Democrat senators like Mark Warner would be invested in helping to ensure he isn't able to do this by voting for the SAVE America Act, which would not only institute Voter ID in all federal elections, but put up safeguards to combat election fraud.
Newp. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) made it clear that this Act will never see the light of day.
After listening to the president’s rambling address, I want him to know that the SAVE America Act is going NOWHERE in the Senate.
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) July 17, 2026
It belongs in the trash with the rest of Donald Trump’s conspiracy theories.
America, use your vote and your voice to save our democracy. 🇺🇸
The soy boys and girls of The Bulwark also had their panties twisted all up in their short hairs. Graham Platner apologist Sarah Longwell just couldn't wait to twist a speech about resolving the undermining of American elections into a ploy to delegitimize American elections.
Trump is really terrified that Democrats might have some oversight after the 2026 election, so he preemptively working to delegitimize America’s elections. That’s all this speech was. Undermining American elections. Outrageous.
— Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) July 17, 2026
"The View" harpy Ana Navarro decided to go with the madman angle, and even attempted a diarrhea joke.
What a non-sensical prime time address or whatever that was. The rantings of a mad-man.
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) July 17, 2026
Dude must have consumed contaminated lettuce. But it affected the wrong orifice. He has explosive diarrhea of the mouth. pic.twitter.com/EjtM0Uja9l
But the grand prize reaction probably comes from the failed former Vice President Kamala Harris, who wouldn't know election integrity if it served her a Ketel One. Harris claimed that the SAVE America Act is voter suppression, and that Trump is "attempting to distract from reality."
Donald Trump and his administration have done nothing to bring down the cost of housing, health care, child care, food, or gas. Donald Trump and his administration got America into a war the people do not want.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 17, 2026
He is attempting to distract you from that reality.
Someone who blew $1.5 billion only to lose an election is not exactly in touch with reality.
Just saying...
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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