U.S. intelligence officials have warned that Russia and Iran may try to incite violence or disruptive protests in the United States after the election. They believe Russian actors are planning influence efforts aimed at inciting violence and questioning democracy, regardless of who wins. Iran is also seen as potentially trying to pave the way for violence through online influence operations.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has repeatedly warned of foreign influence campaigns by Iran, Russia, and China aimed at denigrating the democratic process. Iran is accused of creating a website with death threats against U.S. election officials in 2020. Russia is said to support former President Donald Trump, while Iran supports Vice President Kamala Harris in the election.
All three countries are believed to be better prepared to exert influence in the U.S. general election after the polls close, with a focus on denigrating U.S. democracy. The U.S. is particularly concerned about Russia trying to encourage violence in U.S. protests after the election, especially if Harris wins.
The intelligence community assesses that Iran aims to encourage societal discord, stoke violence, and undermine trust in the U.S. democratic process, regardless of the election outcome. Russia is seen as more likely to be aggressive in a post-election environment if Harris wins, as they prefer the former president to win. Russia has been accused of creating and amplifying false claims against Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
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