In an unusual move, former President Barack Obama has issued a public response to President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Obama committed treason in connection with the 2016 U.S. election.
Trump, now 79, has frequently targeted political rivals with sweeping accusations. This time, he alleged—without presenting evidence—that Obama and his administration tried to “steal” the 2016 election by manipulating intelligence on Russian interference.
Speaking from the Oval Office on July 22, Trump said, “It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason. They tried to steal the election.” His comments referenced long-standing conspiracy theories about the Obama administration’s role in the Russia investigation, which U.S. intelligence agencies have repeatedly addressed.
The claim follows recent remarks from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who described the 2016 investigation as part of a “treasonous conspiracy” and indicated that she would seek DOJ action against several former Obama-era officials.
Russia, which was accused of attempting to interfere in the 2016 election, continues to deny any involvement. U.S. agencies have maintained that while Russian actors sought to influence the election, there was no evidence that vote tallies were altered.
In response, Obama’s spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush issued a sharp rebuke.
“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” Rodenbush said in a statement. “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, we typically do not respond to misinformation coming from this White House, but this deserves clarification.”
Rodenbush cited the 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, which concluded that Russia did attempt to interfere in the election with the goal of helping Donald Trump. The report also noted connections between Trump campaign officials, including Paul Manafort, and individuals tied to Russian intelligence.
“This report reaffirms the widely accepted conclusion that while Russia engaged in election interference, it did not successfully manipulate the actual vote count,” Rodenbush added.
The controversy comes at a time of growing unrest within Trump’s political base. Earlier this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that no further information would be released regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, including the so-called “client list,” contradicting her previous statements. The development has sparked frustration among some Trump supporters, and the case became a focal point during the recent Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA.