US President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on former President Barack Obama on Tuesday, accusing Obama of committing “treason” by allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy to link Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign to Russia. However, Trump did not provide any evidence to support these claims.
During remarks in the Oval Office, Trump referred to recent comments by Tulsi Gabbard, his intelligence chief, who threatened to refer Obama administration officials for prosecution related to the 2016 intelligence assessment on Russian interference. Gabbard claimed a “treasonous conspiracy” existed to undermine Trump’s campaign—claims widely rejected by Democrats as politically motivated and false.
“It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason,” Trump said, alleging Obama and his team tried to sabotage the election. He accused them of trying to “steal the election” and taking unprecedented actions to obstruct the democratic process.
Background of the Russia Interference Investigations
A January 2017 assessment by the US intelligence community concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election primarily through social media disinformation, hacking, and spreading false information to damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign and support Trump. While the interference was confirmed, the report found no evidence that Russian efforts changed the actual vote outcome.
Additionally, a 2020 bipartisan Senate intelligence committee report found that Russian operatives worked through individuals like Paul Manafort and platforms like WikiLeaks to influence the election in Trump’s favor.
Obama’s Office Responds
Obama’s spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush dismissed Trump’s accusations, calling them “bizarre allegations” and a “weak attempt at distraction.” He reiterated that Gabbard’s recent claims do not undermine the widely accepted conclusion that Russia sought to interfere in the 2016 election without successfully manipulating votes.
Trump’s Political Strategy and Backlash
Trump has a history of promoting conspiracy theories around the 2016 election and has repeatedly labeled the Russia investigations a “hoax.” Recently, he reposted a doctored video showing Obama being arrested, further fueling controversy.
Facing pressure from his conservative base to release more information about Jeffrey Epstein, Trump redirected attention by launching harsh attacks on Obama and former President Bill Clinton, accusing them of a “witch hunt.”
Trump also suggested legal action against Obama and his officials, accusing them of attempting a coup.
Bipartisan and Intelligence Community Pushback
Democratic Representative Jim Himes and other lawmakers have condemned Trump’s claims as false. Former Republican Senator Marco Rubio, now Secretary of State, has also reaffirmed that bipartisan investigations found no politicization in intelligence community actions regarding the 2016 election.
History of Trump’s Attacks on Predecessors
Trump’s attacks on Obama are not new. In 2011, he promoted the false “birther” conspiracy claiming Obama was not born in the US. More recently, Trump has also made baseless accusations against President Joe Biden, such as alleging the use of an autopen for official documents.
Intelligence Reviews and Contradictions
Tulsi Gabbard’s allegations about Obama’s role in manipulating intelligence assessments were contradicted by a CIA review led by Director John Ratcliffe and bipartisan Senate reports. While some flaws were found in the intelligence production process, the overall conclusion that Russia authorized efforts to influence the 2016 election was upheld.
Conclusion
President Trump’s unprecedented public accusation of “treason” against Barack Obama marks a new level of political rhetoric in the ongoing partisan battles surrounding the 2016 election investigations. Despite repeated claims, bipartisan investigations and intelligence assessments continue to support the conclusion that Russia interfered but did not change vote outcomes, and there is no verified evidence of a conspiracy by the Obama administration to sabotage Trump’s campaign.
