Trump Accuses Obama of Treason Over 2016 Russia Probe, Cites No Proof
U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on former President Barack Obama, accusing him of “treason” and claiming he led a conspiracy to sabotage Trump’s 2016 election campaign—allegations for which no evidence has been presented.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump referred to declassified documents recently released by his intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard has threatened to refer top Obama-era officials to the Justice Department for prosecution, alleging they manipulated intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“They tried to steal the election,” Trump claimed. “They did things nobody’s ever imagined. This was treason.”
However, the documents released do not overturn the U.S. intelligence community’s 2017 assessment, which concluded that Russia interfered in the election to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign and support Trump, but did not alter vote counts. That assessment was upheld by a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report in 2020.
Obama Spokesperson Denounces Allegations
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said, “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.” He added that the released documents do not challenge the widely accepted conclusion that Russia aimed to influence the 2016 election but failed to manipulate any votes.
Trump Under Pressure from Epstein Conspiracy Theorists
Trump’s comments come amid mounting pressure from his conservative base to release more details about the Jeffrey Epstein case. Trump, who was once associated with the late financier, was asked about Epstein but deflected, turning his focus to Obama and Clinton.
He also reposted a fake video on Truth Social showing Obama in handcuffs—an action widely condemned by critics.
Conspiracy Theories and Political Attacks Continue
Trump’s claims have drawn sharp rebuke from Democrats and even some Republicans. Rep. Jim Himes stated, “This is a lie,” referencing a bipartisan Senate investigation that found no political bias in the intelligence community’s handling of the Russia probe.
Meanwhile, the documents Gabbard cited have been criticized for conflating separate intelligence findings. A review led by former CIA Director John Ratcliffe did note procedural flaws in the 2017 intelligence report but confirmed the core conclusion: Russia attempted to sway the 2016 election in Trump’s favor through disinformation and cyber tactics.
Ongoing Attacks on Predecessors
Since returning to the office in January, Trump has ramped up his rhetoric against both Obama and former President Joe Biden. Recently, he accused Biden of signing sensitive documents using an autopen—a claim Biden dismissed as “ridiculous.”
In 2011, Trump promoted the false “birther” theory questioning Obama’s U.S. citizenship, a narrative that forced Obama to release his birth certificate.
Now, Trump’s revived accusations are once again fueling political division as the 2026 midterms approach.
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