USA TODAY asks readers whether persistent claims about fraud in the 2020 election still matter as the 2026 campaign season unfolds. Former President Donald Trump continues to dispute the 2020 result despite official tallies and repeated court rulings finding no widespread fraud. High-profile developments — including a $788 million Fox News settlement and a July 16 allegation about foreign meddling that reporting says points to Russian, not Chinese, interference — highlight lingering controversy. The paper invites readers to submit responses by email or voicemail for possible publication.
Worried About Election Fraud or Want Easier Voting? USA TODAY Wants Your Views
President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on July 16, 2026.(Pool photo by Saul Loeb ,AFP via Getty Images)
There is a lot unfolding in the 2026 campaign season: primaries are deciding nominees, scandals are pushing some candidates out of contests, and voters are weighing what will motivate them to mark one name over another.
At the same time, coverage of the 2020 election keeps resurfacing because former President Donald Trump continues to dispute that result — the only one of the past three presidential contests he did not win. Trump insists he was the victor even though official tallies show Democrat Joe Biden prevailed.
Trump and his allies have blamed the outcome on widespread voter fraud and on voting machines they claim were rigged against him. Courts have repeatedly rejected those claims as unfounded, including rulings by judges appointed by Trump. In a high-profile civil settlement, Fox News paid $788 million to a voting-machine company to resolve a defamation lawsuit related to coverage of the 2020 election.
In his most recent public allegation — made during a July 16 live national address — the former president claimed the Chinese government sought to influence the 2020 race against him. The intelligence documents he cited reportedly point instead to Russian efforts that, according to officials and reporting, benefited his campaign.
Why It Matters Now
Persistent claims of fraud and foreign interference can affect public confidence in elections, shape voter turnout, and influence how campaigns frame their messages heading into 2026. Even when courts and investigations find no evidence to substantiate specific allegations, the repetition of those claims can erode trust in democratic institutions and fuel partisan divisions.
We Want To Hear From You
USA TODAY is asking readers: What do you make of these ongoing assertions about the 2020 election? Is there any kernel of truth in them despite repeated legal findings to the contrary? How do such claims affect your confidence in the voting process and your choices in upcoming races?
To share your view, scroll down on our website to submit a response, email [email protected] with the subject line "Forum Trump elections", or leave a voicemail at (202) 655-3923. We will publish a collection of reader responses and may follow up with contributors for clarification.
Photo caption: Voters fill in their ballots at Belville Elementary School on March 3, 2026, in Leland, N.C.
Joel Burgess is a Voices editor for USA TODAY Opinion.
Want to take part in our next Forum? Email [email protected]. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @usatodayopinion and sign up for our Opinion newsletter to stay updated on future Forum posts.
The White House, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's address to the nation, in Washington, DC on July 16, 2026.(Kylie Cooper, REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on July 16, 2026.(Pool photo by Saul Loeb, AFP via Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on July 16, 2026.(Pool photo by Saul Loeb , AFP via Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on July 16, 2026.(Pool photo by Saul Loeb , AFP via Getty Images)
Votersfill in their ballots at Belville Elementary School on March 3, 2026, in Leland, N.C.(Ken Blevins, STARNEWS via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Voting and candidate signs marked the way to the polls early Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Belville Elementary School in Leland, N.C.(Ken Blevins, STARNEWS via USA TODAY NETWORK)
People walk by campaign signs near a polling location at West Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center on Election Day in Houston, Texas on March 3, 2026. Americans cast the first ballots of the primary season on Tuesday, kicking off a midterm cycle that could redraw the political map in Washington -- and shape how Donald Trump spends the remainder of his presidency. Texas anchors the opening slate, with voters in the second-largest state selecting their candidates in high-profile Senate primaries, offering an early test of how both parties position themselves for Trump's final two years.(RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
People vote on Election Day at a polling location at West Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, on March 3, 2026. Americans cast the first ballots of the primary season on Tuesday, kicking off a midterm cycle that could redraw the political map in Washington -- and shape how Donald Trump spends the remainder of his presidency. Texas anchors the opening slate, with voters in the second-largest state selecting their candidates in high-profile Senate primaries, offering an early test of how both parties position themselves for Trump's final two years.(RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
People line up to vote on Election Day at a polling location at West Gray Metropolitan Multi-Service Center in Houston, Texas, on March 3, 2026. Americans cast the first ballots of the primary season on Tuesday, kicking off a midterm cycle that could redraw the political map in Washington -- and shape how Donald Trump spends the remainder of his presidency. Texas anchors the opening slate, with voters in the second-largest state selecting their candidates in high-profile Senate primaries, offering an early test of how both parties position themselves for Trump's final two years.(RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
Voters pick up stickers at Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, Mecklenburg County Precinct 11, after casting their ballot in the 2026 Primary Election on March 3, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. If former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who is endorsed by President Trump, wins the primary, he'll face former Governor Roy Cooper in the general election.(Grant Baldwin, Getty Images)
Election officials assist voters at Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, Mecklenburg County Precinct 11, in casting their ballot in the 2026 Primary Election on March 3, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. If former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who is endorsed by President Trump, wins the primary, he'll face former Governor Roy Cooper in the general election.(Grant Baldwin, Getty Images)
US Senate Candidate Michael Whatley greets voters and campaign representatives outisde of a Caldwell County polling location at Grace Chapel Fire Department on March 3, 2026 in Granite Falls, North Carolina. If former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who is endorsed by President Trump, wins the primary, he'll face former Governor Roy Cooper in the general election.(Grant Baldwin, Getty Images)
Campaign signs surround âÓVote HereâÓ signs pointing to the Marty Robbins Recreation Center polling site during the 2026 Texas Primary Election on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in El Paso.(Gaby Velasquez, El Paso Times via USA TODAY NETWORK)
A Lauro Cavazos Middle School student walks past campaign signs on campus on Election Day for the Texas and Lubbock County 2026 March primaries on March 3, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. The middle school operates as a voting center for Lubbock county residents.(Mateo Rosiles, Avalanche-Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
A person sets out campaign signs at the Lauro Cavazos Middle School as polls open for Election Day the Texas and Lubbock County 2026 March primaries on March 3, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas.(Mateo Rosiles, Avalanche-Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Volunteers campaign for candidates outside the Tobin Sports Center polling site during the 2026 Texas Primary Election on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in El Paso.(Gaby Velasquez, El Paso Times via USA TODAY NETWORK)
A person exits a polling center after casting their vote on March 03, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Texas holds their primary elections including two hotly contested races for Democratic and Republican Senate nominations.(Brandon Bell, Getty Images)
Volunteers campaign for candidates outside the Tobin Sports Center polling site during the 2026 Texas Primary Election on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in El Paso.(Gaby Velasquez, El Paso Times via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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