Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was left frustrated after ‘stupid mistakes’ and a poor putting display left him seven shots off the pace

Rory McIlroy remains optimistic about mounting a challenge at the Open Championship despite opening his campaign at Royal Birkdale with a disappointing two-over-par 72.

The Masters champion struggled with his putter on the Southport links, squandering multiple chances and recording six bogeys throughout his round.

He salvaged some ground with four birdies, including one at the 18th, and having battled the toughest conditions of the opening day before completing his round at 8.43pm, is convinced he can recover.

The world number two, who sits seven shots behind surprise leader Jackson Suber, said: “There were just too many stupid mistakes – but every time I made a stupid mistake, thankfully I made a birdie to sort of keep myself in it.

“I’m not too far away. If you look at the discrepancy between the scoring this morning and the scoring this afternoon, it looks like that’s going to be flipped tomorrow with the conditions again.

“Hopefully I can take advantage of the more benign conditions in the morning and shoot one under par and get back in it.”

McIlroy’s putting woes saw him miss three attempts from inside four feet, leaving him languishing in 104th place in the putting statistics.

His struggles reached a low point at the par-five 17th, where after hooking his approach into the gallery and then flying the green into a bunker, he twisted his body awkwardly to splash out to eight feet – only to miss the putt for a bogey.

At least he ended on an upbeat note with a superb approach from 198 yards to five feet, finally converting a short birdie putt. He said: “I left one from pretty much tap-in range on nine to make a birdie. I missed three four-footers in the space of four holes and that’s tough.

“But I’m not going to go back to the house and analyse it too much. I’ll focus on the positives, which were I took it on off the tee and drove the ball very, very well, hit some really good shots, played the hard holes well.”

McIlroy faces a significant challenge to overturn recent historical trends and capture a second Open crown and seventh major championship in total, which would officially make him the most successful European golfer of all time.

While he did mount a remarkable comeback to win last year’s Masters from seven shots back, each of the previous 26 Open champions have been positioned within five shots of the lead following the opening round. The last competitor to overcome a larger deficit was Mark O’Meara in 1998, notably at Birkdale.

McIlroy stood at two over through seven holes, having failed to get up and down at the par-three fourth and two-putted from inside four feet at the short but tricky seventh.

He squandered a three-footer at the following hole – on this occasion for birdie – but eventually registered one after driving the green at the downwind 415-yard ninth, making the turn at one over.

Consecutive bogeys at the beginning of his inward nine stalled any progress before a 24-footer dropped at the 13th for his second birdie of the round.

He struggled badly on both par-fives – despite holing a 12ft birdie at the 206-yard 15th – but managed to salvage something towards the finish.

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By LIAM MORGAN, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 20:57 BST, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 06:48 BST, 17 July 2026

Enzo Fernandez has risked further upsetting England fans after appearing to troll the Three Lions following Argentina’s victory in the semi-finals of the World Cup.

The Chelsea midfielder could be in for a hostile reception from opposition supporters next season – should he remain at Stamford Bridge – for his antics after the world champions took a step closer to retaining their title with a 2-1 win in Atlanta on Wednesday.

And Fernandez on Thursday shared a post on Instagram which featured a picture of him alongside Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes.

It will not be lost on England fans that the post was accompanied by the Oasis hit Wonderwall, which became the soundtrack to the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign.

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Harry Kane and Co gathered on the pitch to sing the iconic song in front of England fans throughout the tournament in north America.

Fernandez later reshared the post without any mention of Wonderwall.

Enzo Fernandez shared a post featuring this picture on Instagram, accompanied by the Oasis song Wonderwall

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The hit had become the soundtrack of England’s World Cup campaign in north America

The 25-year-old fired Argentina level after 85 minutes on Wednesday night, and immediately raced over to stand in front of England fans, cupped his hands behind his ears and stuck out his tongue, then blew a kiss.

Chelsea were later forced to delete a post on X which celebrated wantaway star Fernandez’s equaliser amid fan fury.

The Blues’ social media account shared a photo of Fernandez’s celebration after his equaliser, with the caption ‘Enzo Fernandez’ and an explosion emoji. 

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The Premier League side received an instant backlash from England supporters over the post.

‘Seriously. We’re an English football club. Poor from my club. Poor,’ one fan wrote.

‘Why the f*** are you posting this as an English club when he scored against England,’ another said.

‘The absolute cheek of an English football club to tweet this. Grim,’ a third said.

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‘Once again just proving how very out of touch you lot are these days….. Sure your club captain will enjoy seeing this post,’ wrote another.

One fan referenced how Fernandez has flirted with a move away from Chelsea in their criticism of the club’s post.

‘Read the room, disgusting. Especially when that player would spit at us at any opportunity,’ the fan wrote.

Chelsea, following a wave of comments from furious supporters, ultimately deleted the post.

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Fernandez’s club future has been the subject of speculation, after he revealed his desire to live in Spain one day, amid links to Real Madrid.

The midfielder’s comments led to him being given an internal two-match ban by Chelsea back in April.

New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso stated this week that he wants the vice-captain to remain at the club next season after Real Madrid made a remarkable statement insisting they were not interested in the player.

How much is David Beckham set to pocket from his World Cup brand deals? Take on our quiz in our newsletter HERE. 

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Another man was rescued by the Coastguard after he managed to make his way to a buoy

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The heartbroken family of a 19-year-old kayaker who is missing presumed dead have paid tribute to the “much-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew, team-mate and friend”.

Michael Henry, from Rothbury in Northumberland, was one of two men who were on a kayak near Boulmer when it capsized on the evening of July 7, Northumbria Police said. The other man managed to make it to a buoy and was rescued by the coastguard.

Extensive searches for Michael were conducted in the sea following the capize. But Northumbria Police confirmed on Wednesday that they had concluded their operation, believing the teenager has died.

In a statement, Michael’s family said: “We would like to thank everyone for all their love, kindness and support now and throughout Michael’s life; it was that love and kindness that made him the marvellous person he was.

“Michael was a much-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew, team-mate and friend; a keen sportsman who loved the outdoors. Michael was preparing to go travelling this summer and hoping to start university next academic year.

“Michael will be forever in our thoughts, and we will miss him. Our thanks go to the emergency services and everyone who is helping to search for Michael.”

Chief Inspector Jon Caisley says officer combed both the sea and coastline before deciding that Michael most likely died at sea. He said: “This is a tragic update to share, and I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Michael’s family and friends.

“Despite extensive searches at sea and on the coast, we have been unable to find Michael and he is sadly believed to have died at sea. We know the impact this news will have upon his loved ones and the wider community.”

Mr Caisley added: “I would also like to thank all of our officers and partners for their assistance in the search efforts to find Michael. “We would continue to ask that people respect the family’s privacy at this time.”

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Yet as Nobby Stiles’ health began to deteriorate and he began to lose his faculties, his family claim he was ‘abandoned’ by the game he so dearly loved, despite it ‘rolling in cash.’

That was even more heartbreaking for his loved ones who always suspected that his dementia was at least in part the result of his career and how often he was required to head the ball.

Yesterday (July 16), a brain expert and a coroner both vindicated that view. Following an inquest into Nobby’s death, where she received evidence from a renowned neuropathologist, Senior coroner Alison Mutch said that as well as Alzheimer’s disease, the former footballer had a degenerative brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which is caused by repeated impacts to the head.

Ms Mutch concluded the CTE had ‘significantly contributed’ to his death and that she was ‘entirely satisfied’ that the reason he developed the condition was ‘repeated heading of the ball.’

Nobby’s son John Stiles told the hearing that his dad even a ‘very conservative’ estimate his dad would have headed a ball 40 times a day, five days a week, each ten month season across a 17-year career, which meant he could have headed the ball more than 136,000 times.

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He said his father was in his 50s when the family first started noticing he was ‘forgetting things’ and that things got gradually ‘worse and worse’ He said there was a ‘feeling of doom’ in the family and that in 2010 Nobby decided to sell his medals as he ‘didn’t know what was coming but knew something was coming’ and wanted a pot to pay for his care.

His World Cup winning medal was bought by Manchester United’s club museum for £160,000. His 1968 European Cup winners’ medal sold for £49,402, with a total of 45 items of memorabilia selling for £424,438.

Nobby, who lived in Stretford, eventually moved into a care home in nearby Urmston, where tragically died on October 30, 2020.

The inquest heard that at the time of his death he was ‘severely disabled through dementia’ including being ‘bed bound, immobile and mute.’

Ms Mutch said: “For a man who graced the pitches of some of the world’s greatest football grounds, it is difficult to imagine a sadder way to end their life.”

John Stiles alerted the coroner after examination of Nobby’s brain by renowned brain expert Dr Willie Stewart identified the presence of CTE. The coroner instructed another examination by esteemed neuropathologist Dr Daniel Du Plessis.

He told the inquest: “”I’m quite convinced his heading the football that many times has caused his CTE.”

Adding: “This is a very complicated issue and it is important to use such a death to highlight – that we do now know repeated head injuries have an impact on the brain.”

Speaking afterwards, John Stiles said he predicted an ‘epidemic’ of similar cases as he said thousands of players such as his dad, had been ‘abandoned.’

Mr Stiles is now head of the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) group which is calling on the football authorities to do more for ex-players. He is among dozens of former footballers and their families suing the Football Association, the Football Association of Wales and the English Football League over claims they were “negligent and in breach of their duty of care” to the former players.

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Lawyers for the former players and their families have previously said football bodies knew or should have known that repeatedly heading a ball in training and during matches was likely to cause brain injuries, and that the risks were known for decades.

In March this year lawyers for the FA told the High Court it has ‘not been established by science’ that heading a ball or ‘occasional’ concussion can lead to permanent brain damage.

In January an inquest into the death of Gordon McQueen, 70, an ex-Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds United defender, found that heading the ball was ‘likely’ to have contributed to a brain injury which was a factor in his death.

McQueen was also diagnosed with CTE. McQueen’s TV presenter daughter Hayley McQueen said England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team had now been “pretty much wiped out” by neurodegenerative disease.

And following his father’s inquest, John Stiles said more needed to be done to help those affected by the issue.

“I think this will among the first few of thousands of such inquests of players who have incurred brain disease” he said. “The football industry refused to provide help to these players and their families and the government refuses to intervene.

“Tragically the brain injuries epidemic will grow more and more as so many more girls play football. Women’s brains are even more suspectable to damage from heading. The industry and government have failed to implement a strategy of prevention. Today’s players incur the same, fatal brain injuries.

‘It is a shame and a scandal that the industry and government have failed to support these vulnerable people’

“As we rightly celebrate the football heroes of today, 60 years after the heroics of 1966, it is right to remember people like dad, and the thousands of others, abandoned by a industry ‘rolling in cash.’

“It is a shame and a scandal that the industry and the government have failed to support these vulnerable people.”

He said the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), the trade union which ‘was supposed to be protect the players and which they paid their subs to’ had been ‘nowhere to be seen.’

He dubbed the £1 million fund the PFA launched with the Premier League in 2023 to ‘assist former players, and their families, who have been impacted by dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions’ as being ‘pathetic.’

“It is not adequate” he said. “It’s a PR stunt. We desperately need a proper fund that will take care of players, in particular when they need care home costs.”

He also said there needed to be better education for players on the risks. “Everyone needs to be aware of CTE” he said. ”We have got an epidemic here. If you head the ball thousands of times, you will get CTE more likely than not. This disease is everywhere but there is still massive ignorance about.”

“We have to do something about it, drastically,” he continued. “We don’t want to stop people heading the ball. But youngsters now are not informed about the risks. If someone is informed, then they can make a proper decision. But football has not addressed this.”

Mr Stiles, himself a former footballer who played for Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers and Rochdale amongst other clubs, said his enjoyment of the game had ‘soured a long time ago’ “Every week I talk to families who are going through the same thing my family went through” he said as he said the coroner’s findings had given him ‘some comfort.’

Ms Mutch said she planned to write to the FA and also to the Department of Education about heading in school PE lessons.

The FA co-funded with the Professional Footballers’ Association a 2019 study that found footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the general population. The governing body is phasing out all heading in youth football up to under-11s by 2026.

An FA spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: “Nobby Stiles was one of English football’s most influential players and he was a key member of our 1966 World Cup-winning team.

“His contribution to both our national and domestic game helped to shape one of the most significant eras in English football history, and we were deeply saddened by his passing in 2020.

“While the link between heading in football and long-term brain health remains the subject of ongoing scientific and medical research, we have consistently been at the forefront of efforts to help improve the safety of our game.

We have led the way in this area to proactively review and strengthen player welfare across every level of English football, working closely with our domestic and international stakeholders.

“We were the first governing body to introduce comprehensive heading guidelines across both professional and grassroots football, and we continue to review and enhance our game-wide concussion protocols in line with worldwide best practice.

“We have also invested in and actively supported multiple independent research projects, often resulting in groundbreaking and valuable insight, in order to gain a greater understanding of this complex area through objective, robust and thorough analysis.”

Related closures will cause significant traffic disruption to the Cliftonville Road area moving into the morning, the PSNI has warned

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Police are at the scene of a security alert in North Belfast, following the search of a property during the early hours of Friday (July 17) morning, the PSNI has confirmed. Properties located in Rosapenna Parade and the surrounding areas are in the midst of being evacuated, with the Ardoyne Community Centre opened for local residents as a rest shelter as this situation continues to unfold. A PSNI spokesperson said: “Cordons are also in place, and we would ask that the public avoid the Rosapenna Street and Cliftonville Road areas at this time, as officers remain at the scene, with enquiries set to continue for some time. “In particular, it is anticipated that there will be significant traffic disruption to the Cliftonville Road area as we move into the morning, so we would ask that you please seek an alternative route for your journey.” The PSNI spokesperson said whilst police understand the disruption closures such as this can cause, “public safety is always our priority”.

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The Marvelous Mrs Maisel actor Josh Grisetti’s cause of death has been confirmed, six days after his passing aged just 44.

Grisetti’s friend and colleague Rob McClure on Sunday first announced the death of the entertainer, who had also performed in Broadway musicals such as Something Rotten! and It Shoulda Been You – revealing he had died by suicide the Friday prior.

The actor died from a gunshot wound, per a report from the California’s Orange County Sheriff’s Department obtained by Daily Mail.

The autopsy report listed associated injuries as ‘multiple bilateral temporal calvarial fractures and a brain injury.’

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for further comment. 

Announcing the death on Sunday, McClure wrote, ‘It is with a shattered heart that I share that the brilliant Josh Grisetti took his own life on Friday.

Grisetti (left) played Ralph Emerson over eight episodes of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel 

‘I’m not ready to even attempt to understand. My heart is with his wife and family as they try to deal with the reality of this.’

McClure said that ‘communities around the world will never be the same without him,’ calling Grisetti’s passing ‘a cataclysmic loss.’

He continued, ‘Some of my all-time favorite memories were by this man’s side, playing his brother onstage for years, watching him inspire students while transforming the Musical Theatre program at Cal State Fullerton… and having the honor of being the Best Man at his wedding.’

Grisetti’s representative Rick Ferrari told the Daily Mail Monday the late actor was ‘a tremendous talent’ who ‘shared his gift with everyone who wanted it.’

He added: ‘His students at Cal State Fullerton, theater program, cherished him … we are stunned and heartbroken.’

McClure added that he and his spouse were ‘beyond heartbroken,’ adding that details about a memorial would be released in time.

Grisetti played the role of Ralph Emerson over eight episodes of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel in 2023.

The Washington, DC-born creative also appeared on TV shows such as The Knights of Prosperity, Nurse Jackie and The Good Fight.

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel actor Josh Grisetti died by suicide aged 44 on Friday 

In what was his last post on Instagram, the beloved creative thanked the cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical for a tribute they did for him after he left the production 

Grisetti had been seen in Broadway productions such as Broadway Bound, Camelot in concert, with Off-Broadway credits in Rent, Enter Laughing, Candida, After the Ball and Red Eye of Love.

His film credits included motion pictures such as The Namesake, The Immigrant and Revolutionary Road.

Grisetti was also an educator, as he led California State University, Fullerton’s Musical Theatre program after prior stints at Southern California schools such as Loyola Marymount University and Fullerton College. 

Grisetti, who resided in Southern California at the time of his death, lived in Virginia growing up and was educated at North Carolina School of the Arts and the Boston Conservatory. 

In what was his last post on Instagram, the beloved performer thanked the cast of Legally Blonde: The Musical, which he was directing at the Trentino Music Festival in Italy, for a tribute they did for him as he alluded to departing the production ‘for personal reasons.’

Grisetti performing Something Rotten in NYC in August 2016 

The multitalented entertainer leaves behind a legacy on Broadway, in TV and film, and in education 

He said, ‘When you have to leave a production for personal reasons before getting to see the show open, and the cast and team do stuff like this… 

‘Literally cried on the plane… little gestures go a long way when your heart is hurting… Love this group of misfits right back!! Happy opening, Legally Blonde… I’m so proud of you all.’

Grisetti was warmly remembered by a number of his peers on Broadway.

Donna Murphy said news of Grisetti’s passing was ‘truly devastating & heartbreaking,’ calling him ‘a beautiful, gifted human & artist.’

Sierra Boggess, who worked with Grisetti on It Shoulda Been You, called her late friend ‘a BRILLIANT actor and director and writer.’ 

She added, ‘You have left such a space in all the lives of everyone who knows you and loves you.

‘We will have more details on celebration of life but for now, we love you Josh. If ‘whatever’ means ‘we love you’ then ‘I’ll take whatever, whenever with you.”

Grisetti’s friend and colleague, Rob McClure, announced his death on Sunday 

Sierra Boggess, who worked with Grisetti on It Shoulda Been You, paid tribute to the actor 

Erika Henningsen, who worked with Grisetti on the musical Diner, also spoke out

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Erika Henningsen, who worked with Grisetti on the musical Diner, wrote, ‘Oh Josh. I just loved you. I wish you were still here. Thank you for changing my life. For making me believe in myself. I know you did the same for so many others.

‘My heart is deeply with your loved ones and also students today. They were lucky to have known you and been led by you: your wit, your curiosity, and your indefatigable insistence that what we do as actors matters. I hope you know you mattered. So very, very much.’

Ariana Debose wrote, ‘My sincerest sympathies’ with a brokenhearted emoji, adding, ‘sending so much love and care to his nearest and dearest.’ 

Grisetti is survived by his wife Mackenzie, who he was wed to for six years.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.

Econ Engineering of Ripon has secured the order with Ringway Infrastructure Services in support of Ringway’s long-term highways contract with Kent County Council.

The vehicles are currently in production and will be delivered in the coming months.

Jonathan Lupton, managing director at Econ, said: “This significant supply contract with our long-standing partners at Ringway and Kent County Council reflects the trust our partners place in Econ to deliver robust, innovative and reliable vehicles nationwide.

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“We are proud to support Ringway and Kent County Council, delivering essential services for communities across the UK.”

The fleet includes mainly pre-wet spreaders for primary roads, with a smaller number of dry spreaders for secondary routes.

Other vehicles in the order include permanent mount hotboxes and units equipped with Econ’s quick-change body system, offering both spreader and insulated tipper body options.

All vehicles feature the distinctive Ringway yellow livery, an e-plough with market-leading hydraulic angling, and the Ringway logo on each plough frame.

Additional safety and operational features include the Motormax five-point camera system, Brigade BS8000 reverse radar, and side guard infill panels.

Built on DAF and Mercedes-Benz chassis, the vehicles are equipped with Spargo X controls and CRC Distributor technology.

The fleet will be supported by Econ’s repair and maintenance cover for eight years.

Pat Connolly, contract director – Kent, at Ringway Infrastructure Services, said: “We are delighted to be once again working with Econ to support our Kent County Council contract.

“Effective winter service plays a vital role in keeping our community moving.

“Working closely with Econ ensures our fleet is fully prepared to deliver safe and reliable precautionary treatments during the winter season, allied with the peace of mind the repair and maintenance package provides.”

Senior representatives from Kent County Council and Ringway visited Econ’s Ripon factory.

Peter Osborne, cabinet member for highways and transportation at Kent County Council, said: “I was seriously impressed by Econ Engineering.

“Both sites that I visited were absolutely fantastic and a great example of British engineering at its finest, from design to completion of the final product.”

Econ Engineering supplies 85 per cent of the winter maintenance vehicles to local councils and private contractors from its North Yorkshire-based factory in Ripon.

The company also operates engineering hubs in Alloa, Sowerby, Halesworth, and Cardiff.

US President Donald Trump has delivered a primetime address in which he accused China of interfering in the 2020 election and alleged “shocking vulnerabilities” in American voting systems.

Trump, who spoke from the White House on Thursday, has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud and foreign meddling in the 2020 election which he lost to Joe Biden.

In the half-hour speech, delivered three months before the midterm elections, he said he had declassified hundreds of intelligence files which supported his claims that Beijing had tried to sway the election in Biden’s favour.

The US intelligence community has previously concluded China did not interfere in the 2020 election.

Trump spoke in front of several members of his top team as he gave his address, but journalists were unable to put questions to the president.

In his remarks, he accused China of the “illicit acquisition” of 220 million voter files including personal information.

Trump said voter data in 18 states was “bought, stolen or hacked by China” and accused “those responsible for sounding the alarm” of not disclosing the discovery to government officials or Congress.

Trump did not present evidence that China had used the information it allegedly gathered to alter voting systems or to influence election outcomes.

In response to his speech, the Chinese Embassy in Washington told Reuters that Beijing “has never and will never interfere in the presidential elections”. The BBC has approached the Chinese foreign ministry for comment.

Democrats, meanwhile, accused Trump of attempting to sow doubts about the security of the upcoming November midterms which will decide control of Congress for the remainder of his presidency.

“Let’s be clear – in America, voters choose their leaders, not the other way around,” top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer posted on social media after the speech.

“Democrats will fight like hell to make sure every American voter can cast their ballot freely, without obstruction or interference from Donald Trump,” he added.

The president’s comments contradict previous US intelligence assessments. A 2021 report by the US National Intelligence Council said it had “high confidence” that China did not interfere in the 2020 presidential election.

“We assess that China did not deploy interference efforts and considered but did not deploy influence efforts intended to change the outcome of the US presidential election,” the report stated.

It said this was probably because China “did not view either election outcome as being advantageous enough for China to risk blowback if caught”.

Trump delivered the White House address after the release of a new poll from Washington Post-Ipsos, which indicated his approval rating had dropped to 37% with many voters pessimistic about the cost of living and the ongoing war with Iran.

Elsewhere in the speech, the president alleged that US voting machines are “extremely exposed” to interference by foreign adversaries, including Russia, China and Iran.

Shortcomings of US election infrastructure have been well-documented. Some were addressed after the 2016 election which Trump won, after the US intelligence community found that Russia had engaged in a concerted election meddling campaign that included hacking, social media influencing and funding of on-the-ground electioneering activities.

During the address, Trump also alleged that a state investigation by Michigan law enforcement discovered a voter registration fraud scheme by a Democratic-affiliated group, but was constrained by the FBI from taking action before the statute of limitations expired.

“It was pay, play and cheat,” he said, although he provided no evidence of votes or tabulations being changed or voting machines hacked.

Separately, Trump said that the Department of Homeland Security had identified 278,000 non-citizens were registered to vote. He did not say whether any of those people had voted or had an impact on any election outcome.

At the end of his speech, Trump again called for the passing the of the SAVE America Act, which bans most mail voting, requires proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID to cast a ballot.

That legislation has been stalled in the Senate for months.