Former President Barack Obama on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 20.Charly Triballeau / AFP – Getty Images file
In a sharp response, former President Barack Obama’s office has dismissed Donald Trump’s recent claims that Obama committed “treason” by trying to rig the 2016 and 2020 elections. The accusation, made by Trump during a media interaction, was labeled “outrageous” and “bizarre” by Obama’s spokesperson, Patrick Rodenbush.
“A Weak Attempt at Distraction”
Rodenbush explained that Obama typically avoids commenting on Trump’s frequent outbursts, but said this particular claim crossed a line.
“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” he said.
Trump made the comments when asked about the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein case. Instead of answering directly, he launched into claims about Obama’s supposed involvement in election interference.
“What they did in 2016 and 2020 is very criminal,” Trump said. “This was treason.”
Where Are These Claims Coming From?
Trump’s accusations were backed by recent social media posts and TV appearances by National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. They claimed—without solid evidence—that Obama-era officials had manipulated intelligence to damage Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Gabbard went so far as to say she had referred the matter to the Justice Department, claiming a key intelligence assessment about Russian interference was suppressed before it reached President Obama in 2016.
But Rodenbush pushed back, saying the information being used is misleading. He cited a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, led by Republican Marco Rubio, which confirmed that while Russia did try to influence the 2016 election, no votes were changed.
What the Evidence Really Shows
Despite Trump’s claims, past investigations paint a different picture:
- Obama’s statement in 2016: He assured the public there was no vote tampering and that the election results were legitimate.
- Mueller investigation & Senate report: Both confirmed that Russia tried to interfere in 2016—specifically to help Trump—but found no evidence that actual votes were altered.
- Durham investigation: Although critical of how the FBI handled parts of the Russia probe, it didn’t support any criminal wrongdoing on Obama’s part.
Democrats Say It’s Just a Smokescreen
Democratic lawmakers see Trump’s attacks as a deliberate distraction from other controversies, especially the Epstein case.
“It’s all a distraction,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. “They’ll release anything to keep people from focusing on Epstein.”
Senator Mark Warner called the intelligence narrative push “an effort to rewrite history” and warned it could further damage trust in U.S. intelligence agencies.
Trump Revives Old Grudges
Recently, Trump has been stirring up old claims and targeting longtime political foes. On his Truth Social platform, he’s shared AI-generated mugshots of Democratic figures and accused Congressman Adam Schiff of criminal acts.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has released thousands of documents tied to the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination and briefed lawmakers on past investigations involving Hillary Clinton.
As the political drama escalates, Obama’s team is making it clear: they’re not letting Trump’s unproven claims go unchecked.
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