Trump Accuses Obama of Treason Over Russia Probe

U.S. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of "treason" on Tuesday, alleging without evidence that Obama orchestrated efforts to tie Trump’s 2016 campaign to Russia. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump cited recently declassified comments from Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, who claimed Obama-era officials engaged in a “treasonous conspiracy” to undermine Trump.

Trump stated, “It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason,” though no supporting proof was offered. A spokesperson for Obama dismissed the claims as “ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

The accusation follows Gabbard’s threat to refer Obama administration officials for prosecution. However, declassified documents released last week do not undercut the widely accepted 2017 intelligence conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to harm Hillary Clinton and aid Trump. That assessment, supported by a 2020 bipartisan Senate report, noted Russia used tactics such as social media disinformation, WikiLeaks, and political operatives like Paul Manafort to influence voters—without affecting vote tallies.

Gabbard’s narrative conflates separate findings: that Russia did not tamper with vote counts, but did engage in cyber efforts to sway public opinion. Despite flaws in how the 2017 assessment was compiled, a CIA review upheld its core findings and credibility.

Trump’s comments come amid calls from his supporters to declassify files related to Jeffrey Epstein, potentially shifting focus from ongoing legal scrutiny tied to Trump’s own actions after leaving office. He also renewed attacks on Joe Biden, alleging misuse of an autopen to sign documents—another claim lacking evidence.

Critics, including Rep. Jim Himes and former GOP Senator Marco Rubio—now Trump’s Secretary of State—rejected Trump’s claims, reaffirming the bipartisan Senate findings that debunk conspiracy narratives around the Russia probe.