A spokesperson for former US President Barack Obama has denounced unsubstantiated accusations of treason from President Donald Trump as “bizarre,” “ridiculous,” and a “weak attempt at distraction.”
The sharp rebuke came after Mr. Trump on Tuesday accused his predecessor of leading a criminal conspiracy to undermine his 2016 election campaign, marking a significant escalation in his attacks since returning to office.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Mr. Trump’s allegations followed a new report from his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, which aimed to challenge the long-standing consensus on Russian interference.
“It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason,” the President claimed, though he offered no evidence. “They tried to steal the election… It’s time to go after people.”
Rebuttal Cites Bipartisan Findings
In a rare public statement, Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush refuted the claims by pointing to established facts.
He noted that nothing in the newly declassified documents “undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes.”
This conclusion is supported by a 2017 US intelligence community assessment and a 2020 bipartisan Senate intelligence committee report, which found Russia used operatives to help Mr. Trump’s campaign.
Trump Under Pressure
The fiery accusations come as the President seeks to deflect from other issues, including pressure from his conservative base to release files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
When asked about Epstein in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump quickly pivoted to attacking Mr. Obama.
This follows a recent pattern of promoting false narratives, including his sharing of a fake AI-generated video showing Mr. Obama being arrested and his past promotion of the “birther” conspiracy theory.
Pattern of Attacks on Predecessors
Since returning to office in January 2025, Mr. Trump has frequently castigated his political opponents in a manner unprecedented in modern times.
He previously launched an investigation into former President Joe Biden based on an unsubstantiated “conspiracy” theory involving an automated signing device, a claim Mr. Biden also rejected as “ridiculous.”