The U.S. government has issued a warning that Russia and Iran may attempt to incite violent protests in the country following next month’s election. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a memo on Tuesday citing concerns about foreign intelligence agencies trying to sow discord ahead of the vote. The memo mentioned that Russia and Iran could support violent protests by either organizing events covertly or encouraging participation in planned protests by domestic groups. The goal of these actions would be to increase division, cast doubt on election results, and complicate the transfer of presidential power.
The memo also revealed that Russian military intelligence attempted to recruit an American to organize protests in the U.S. in January. The American was likely unaware that they were in contact with Russian agents. The U.S. had previously accused the Iranian government of covertly supporting protests against American support for Israel during the conflict in Gaza. Individuals linked to Iran offered to cover the cost of travel to protests in Washington earlier this year.
Officials have expressed concerns about the potential for political violence after the election, particularly in the period between Election Day and the inauguration of the new president. The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters highlighted the ease with which false and misleading claims about election results can lead to real-world violence. The risk of foreign adversaries and domestic extremists disrupting election certification is heightened by the current political climate of widening polarization and growing distrust.
Russia, Iran, and China have been identified as countries seeking to undermine American unity by spreading false and misleading claims about elections, voting, and other contentious issues. Russia is said to favor former President Donald Trump, while Iran has tried to sabotage Trump’s campaign through disinformation and hacking efforts. Regardless of the election outcome, Russia is expected to try to foment protests in the U.S., with a potentially aggressive response if Harris defeats Trump.
While China has also engaged in disinformation campaigns, intelligence officials have not seen indications that Beijing intends to encourage violent protests in the U.S. Concerns about election-related violence have prompted voting advocacy organizations and civil rights groups to launch public outreach initiatives aimed at combating disinformation and reminding voters of the importance of their role in deciding election outcomes. Officials warn that groups seeking to meddle in the election could use threats of violence at polling places to suppress voter turnout, a tactic seen in 2020.
In response to accusations of election meddling, Russia, China, and Iran have all denied any intent to interfere in the U.S. election. Spokespeople for these countries have dismissed the claims as malicious speculation. Voting advocacy groups stress the importance of voter resilience in the face of disinformation and violence, with a call for voters to remember that they ultimately decide the election outcome. The ongoing efforts to combat election misinformation and potential political violence highlight the critical importance of safeguarding democratic processes.
