Former President Barack Obama has issued a rare public response to Donald Trump, who recently accused him of committing treason.
While the 79-year-old former president has long used inflammatory language against political opponents and former leaders, Obama—now 63—has mostly stayed silent, brushing off the many attacks made over the years.
However, this time, after Trump accused him of trying to sabotage the 2016 election—when Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton—the 44th president decided to push back.
Trump Claims Obama Tried to Rig the 2016 Election
Speaking from the Oval Office on July 22, Trump made the explosive accusation. “It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason,” he said, referring to Obama. “They tried to steal the election, they tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobody’s ever imagined, even in other countries.”
Trump is alleging that Obama manipulated intelligence reports to make it seem like Russia interfered in the 2016 election, casting doubt on the legitimacy of Trump’s win.
The Obama administration had stated that Russia attempted to interfere in that election but maintained that the effort was ultimately unsuccessful in changing the outcome.
No Evidence Backing Trump’s Claim
Despite the bold accusations, Trump offered no proof to support them. His comments followed closely on the heels of a statement by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who just four days earlier had accused Obama of leading a “treasonous conspiracy” while investigating alleged Russian interference in 2016.
Russia has consistently denied any involvement in tampering with the election.
