Foreign adversaries aiming to influence the November presidential election are expected to spread disinformation after the polls close on November 5, casting doubt on the outcome, according to U.S. intelligence officials.
In a briefing, an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) warned that foreign influence operations would likely continue, focusing on undermining trust in the election results.
“Foreign actors are expected to question the validity of the election results once the polls close,” the official said, speaking anonymously under the call’s ground rules. They further explained that these adversaries would use tactics similar to those already deployed to undermine trust in the election process and deepen divisions among Americans.
With less than a month until Election Day, the intelligence community anticipates that foreign actors, particularly Russia, Iran, and China, will continue their efforts to interfere in the race between President Trump and Kamala Harris. Last month, the U.S. charged Iranian hackers with targeting the election, including a breach of Trump campaign emails.
The ODNI assessment also indicates that these nations are working to sway select congressional races to promote candidates aligned with their geopolitical interests. Moscow, for example, supports candidates who oppose further aid to Ukraine, while Beijing backs those favoring its stance on Taiwan. Cuba is also involved, particularly in Florida, focusing on issues like trade embargoes and travel restrictions, with a significant effort to influence Latino and Spanish-speaking voters.
Officials noted that campaigns have received “defensive briefings” regarding foreign influence efforts but did not provide specifics. The ODNI reported delivering more than triple the number of briefings compared to previous election cycles.
Read the ODNI briefing here.
