Overview of How Trump Is Using China to Sabotage the Midterms
In this episode of The Rest Is Politics US, Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci examine how Donald Trump is using claims about China and the 2020 election to shape the political environment ahead of the 2026 midterms. They argue that Trump’s White House speech was less about evidence than about energizing his base and further eroding trust in American elections. The second half shifts to immigration enforcement, focusing on reports that the FBI has been told to stop investigating ICE agents and on the Trump administration’s revival of a little-used secret immigration court—moves the hosts see as part of Stephen Miller’s broader deportation agenda.
Trump’s China Claims and the 2020 Election Narrative
What Trump Said
Trump delivered a White House speech claiming:
- China interfered in the 2020 election
- U.S. elections were vulnerable to being “rigged and stolen”
- leaked documents showed a “deep state” effort to suppress evidence of Chinese meddling
Kay and Scaramucci argue that the documents Trump declassified actually undercut his own claims.
Why the Hosts Say the Claims Fall Apart
They note that:
- the alleged “stolen” voter rolls were already publicly available on commercial websites
- the documents Trump released reinforce the idea that adversaries can spread fabricated claims to undermine confidence in elections
- there is far stronger evidence of Russian interference than Chinese interference
Their central point: Trump’s speech appeared to do the work of America’s adversaries by sowing doubt about the legitimacy of U.S. elections.
The Strategic Theory
The hosts debate why Trump keeps pushing the 2020 election narrative:
- psychological refusal to admit defeat
- a desire to keep the “big lie” alive for his base
- a possible attempt to lay the groundwork for disrupting the midterms
Scaramucci argues this is not about persuading swing voters; it’s about mobilizing the already-converted MAGA core and normalizing distrust in democracy.
Political Impact Ahead of the Midterms
Rallying the Base vs. Expanding the Coalition
The hosts agree that Trump’s election fraud rhetoric may energize die-hard supporters, but it does little to win over undecided voters. In their view:
- the people who already believe the stolen-election story would vote anyway
- the rhetoric does not expand Trump’s support
- it may actually hurt Republicans by keeping attention on 2020 instead of affordability and governing
Damage to Republican Institutions
They also say Trump’s obsession with the 2020 election has reshaped Republican politics:
- loyalty now includes acknowledging Trump’s false election claims
- Senate confirmations are affected by whether nominees repeat the “correct” political line
- even relatively mainstream Republicans are pressured to avoid contradicting Trump
Jay Clayton and Bill Pulte
A major side discussion focuses on the contrast between:
- Jay Clayton: portrayed as a loyal but more competent figure
- Bill Pulte: described as a conspiracy-driven influence pushing Trump toward the China/election narrative
Kay suggests Trump’s speech may ironically help Clayton, because senators may prefer a loyalist who is “sane and competent” over someone openly conspiratorial.
ICE, the FBI, and Immigration Enforcement
FBI Told to Stop Investigating ICE
The episode then turns to reporting that FBI managers have been told to stop investigating alleged misconduct by ICE agents. The hosts see this as a major red flag because it effectively lets ICE police itself.
Why It Matters
According to the hosts, this change could:
- free ICE to act more aggressively
- reduce outside oversight of arrests, detentions, and use-of-force incidents
- intensify fear in immigrant communities and among Latino Americans broadly
Scaramucci calls the policy deeply un-American and argues the U.S. needs immigration, including legal immigration, to support economic growth and the labor force.
ACLU Findings
Kay cites a recent ACLU report that documents:
- 782 protesters, journalists, elected officials, clergy, and observers affected
- 155 American citizens detained or targeted
- 214 children targeted, including 32 U.S. citizens
- 49 incidents of ICE activity at schools
- 361 instances of chemical agents used against protesters
Their takeaway: these actions are not just enforcement—they are changing the atmosphere of American cities and increasing fear.
The Alien Terrorist Removal Court
What It Is
The episode closes with discussion of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), a dormant legal body created nearly 30 years ago after the Oklahoma City bombing to handle deportation of “alien terrorists.”
Why the Trump Administration Is Using It
The administration has filed the first-ever petition to activate the court, which the hosts interpret as:
- a new tool for Stephen Miller’s deportation strategy
- part of a broader effort to expand executive power over immigration
- another example of the administration stretching legal definitions to justify removals
What Happens Next
A Bush-appointed judge has already pushed back, ordering the DOJ to provide more legal and factual justification. The hosts predict one of three outcomes:
- the petition is denied
- it is granted narrowly
- or it opens a new deportation pipeline
Scaramucci thinks a narrow approval is most likely, but both hosts believe the move reflects a broader attempt to bypass normal immigration process.
Bottom Line
The episode paints a picture of a Trump administration using:
- election disinformation to shape the midterms and keep his base activated
- immigration enforcement to project strength while expanding executive power
- conspiracy-driven personnel and obscure legal mechanisms to push policy goals that would be politically harder to sell openly
The hosts’ core warning is that Trump is not just talking about distrust in elections or immigration—he is actively normalizing both as tools of political power.