• Activists aligned with former President Trump are pushing a draft executive order alleging Chinese interference in the 2020 election as grounds for declaring a national emergency, which would grant expanded presidential authority over elections.
  • The draft, reportedly 17 pages long and claimed to be coordinated with the White House, has not been issued as of early 2025, despite ongoing circulation amid reduced federal election security efforts under Trump.
  • U.S. intelligence confirms Chinese interference in the 2024 elections through tactics like AI-generated disinformation and cyberespionage, contrasting with 2020 when China avoided direct meddling, raising questions about the draft's basis.

Pro-Trump activists are circulating a 17-page draft executive order that urges President Trump to declare a national emergency over alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 election, according to people familiar with the matter. The draft, which claims coordination with the White House, aims to unlock extraordinary presidential power over voting processes, though no such order has been issued as of March 2025.

Efforts to push this draft have hit a snag, as President Trump has instead signed a series of executive orders, including Executive Order 14147 and subsequent ones up to 14371, focused on preserving election integrity with measures against foreign interference. None of these match the draft's emergency declaration on 2020 claims, leaving activists to continue their push without official endorsement. Reports indicate ongoing circulation by groups claiming White House ties, amid a backdrop of reduced federal election security initiatives, such as the suspension of CISA disinformation countermeasures despite alerts about 2024 interference.

Without a deal to formalize this draft, the activists' campaign risks fizzling out, similar to past post-2020 efforts that led nowhere. The political context adds complexity: U.S. intelligence assesses that China engaged in interference during the 2024 elections through Spamouflage operations, AI-generated content, and cyberespionage like the Salt Typhoon hacks targeting Trump and Vance phones. This marks a shift from 2020, when China avoided direct election meddling due to high detection risks after Russia's 2016 activities. Biden warned Xi Jinping against such interference, citing broken promises, while Trump-era policies have rolled back DHS and CISA protections, drawing criticism for weakening defenses against adversaries.

Industry-specific elements come into play, with legislation like S.5365 aiming to counter threats from nations like China, and Project 2025 proposals facing scrutiny for potentially inviting foreign meddling by dismantling cyber defenses. Human touches emerge as activists frame the draft as a move to protect democracy from foreign threats, sparking debates on executive overreach versus election safeguards. Critics, including the Brennan Center, argue that cutting federal support undermines security and benefits adversaries, with public reactions dividing along partisan lines amid persistent election distrust.

Looking ahead, short-term implications could include legal challenges over emergency powers and the validity of 2020 claims if the draft were issued, escalating partisan divides. Long-term, there's a risk of politicizing elections and weakening U.S. responses to evolving foreign interference tactics, such as China's use of AI. Experts predict continued efforts by Beijing to exploit U.S. divisions, with potential retaliation limited by Trump's cuts to CISA. As of now, the draft remains in circulation, a testament to the ongoing tensions over election integrity and executive authority in a polarized landscape.