Tough Love on the Declass

Tough Love on the Declass

It only matters what happens moving forward.

I live in two universes most of the time. This is the curse of “knowing too much.” Now that President Trump’s address has wrapped, I am in the clear to tell you I knew what was coming down the pike beforehand. I was part of a small group given access to this information in order to help shape the information space.

All five points of the speech unfolded exactly as we were told they would. Here they are:

  • Proof of foreign tampering within election infrastructure (primarily China, but other nations included) dating back to 2018 and impacting the 2020 presidential election
  • Intelligence community concealed the breach(es) from President Trump’s first administration
  • Proof that electronic voting systems can be manipulated, Venezuela named
  • Identification of registration fraud, focused on Michigan, occurring in the 2020 election (also concealed for years)
  • Proof of non-citizens on voter rolls (over 278,000 in a small sliver)

I wrote in Wednesday’s article that I expected the address to fall within four categories (including within multiple categories):

  • A total “nothingburger”
  • Announcement of emergency measures
  • Pressure for the SAVE America Act
  • Decimation of all 2020 (and associated) media narratives

Now, with the address behind us, here is my evaluation and diagnosis:

So far, I’d grade it a C.

Dead average. The good news here is that the test may take place in multiple parts, thereby affording opportunity for higher marks. When I say I straddle two universes, I would explain that in these two ways:

  • Election integrity minds are underwhelmed and asking “Great, but now what?”
  • “Normies” are thrilled and in awe of the new revelations

Take a look around the online space. To me, there is no consolation in having people say, “You were right!” I’ve known for almost six years that the 2020 presidential election was rigged in a way that would make Boss Tweed blush, and gave enough proof in The American War on Election Corruption that the media won’t touch it. It’s been obvious to me as long as I’ve been a watchman on the wall.

Yet there are people ranting and raving about the declassification (in a good way). Brian Cates is one who never takes his eye off the ball, and he’s been positive. Just now, as I write today’s article, here is Cleta Mitchell with some positive news:

“@SecMullinDHS will host a press conference today at 11 am EST to outline mitigation measures DHS is legally obligated to commence following the speech last night by @realDonaldTrump detailing the threats and vulnerabilities to America’s election system. That is required by…” — Cleta Mitchell (@CletaMitchell), July 17, 2026

That would satisfy “emergency measures,” the second bullet listed above for courses of action.

Summary of Facts

The announcement is not a “nothingburger.” Far from it. While it confirmed what a lot of people familiar with the elections crisis in America already knew or suspected, it’s important that it is recognized at the highest levels of government.

We did not get “emergency measures” announced from the President like we wanted. How this pans out rests on the subordinate agencies in the coming days and weeks. Grade to be determined.

The SAVE America Act was harped on with tremendous effort. I think we are well past the point of “calling our Senators” to get this across. They know it must be passed yet keep finding every excuse. This seems like a “box check” from President Trump.

Indeed, the official government narrative now records massive vulnerabilities and opportunities to rig our elections. We have reached terminal velocity now with how many minds can change on the issue, meaning only one thing.

The time to act is RIGHT NOW.

There must be accountability for those who have jeopardized our elections and those who concealed knowledge of the vulnerabilities from the President. We cannot simply continue to “expose” every issue. We know, and the hour is late. Let it be known I am not jumping the gun and throwing in the towel; how the address of July 16, 2026, will be remembered falls directly on the steps directly taken by those with the emergency authority to act to craft an entirely new system that eliminates opportunities to defraud the electorate, and what efforts are taken by the Senate and state legislatures to create a voting system that cuts down on mail and registration fraud.

So far, the address gets a C. It was a necessary box-check for the normies and to establish the new standard. It did not go far enough, in my opinion, in using the power of the executive with a mandate for change in proposing and implementing necessary changes in light of massive cheating covering many vectors of corruption.

But that may change beginning today, and so might the grade. The election corruption is fully exposed. The next phase of action must now occur in short order.

Seth Keshel, MBA is a Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy and a retired Army Captain. He publishes Captain K’s Corner on Substack.