Donald Trump has stirred up controversy by accusing former President Barack Obama of "treason," suggesting a conspiracy to sabotage his presidency during the 2016 election. Speaking at the White House, Trump claimed Obama attempted to undermine his victory through links to Russian meddling, saying, "They tried to steal the election."
The accusations stem from claims made by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that Obama and his team engaged in a "years-long coup" against Trump. In response, Obama’s spokesman, Patrick Rodenbush, called Trump’s remarks "bizarre" and a "weak attempt at distraction," reiterating that they usually do not respond to misinformation from the current administration.
This incident was spotlighted alongside discussions surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's case, which has been an ongoing source of scrutiny for the Trump administration. Trump's claim comes in the wake of a report that allegedly revealed emails showing Obama aides suppressed intelligence about Russian efforts to influence the elections—something that has been widely contested by Democrats.
While Trump maintained that Obama had "been caught directly" and is "guilty," Obama’s spokesperson defended the integrity of the intelligence community's findings, reiterating that there was no evidence suggesting the elections were manipulated. The 2016 presidential election, they argued, was influenced by Russian efforts but ultimately result remained unchanged.
In summary, this latest exchange has reignited debates about election interference and the political fallout from the Trump administration’s inquiries into Russian involvement during the 2016 elections, which have been a point of contention throughout Trump’s presidency.
