In a rare public rebuttal, former President Barack Obama has responded to President Donald Trump’s explosive accusation that he committed treason.
Trump, 79, has a long track record of attacking political opponents and predecessors, often without evidence. For years, Obama, now 63, has largely ignored the barbs. But Trump’s latest claim (alleging that Obama tried to “steal” the 2016 election) prompted a firm response from the former president’s office.
Speaking from the Oval Office on July 22, Trump told reporters, via The Guardian: “It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason. They tried to steal the election, they tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobody’s ever imagined, even in other countries.”
Donald Trump was referring to allegations that the Obama administration manipulated intelligence to suggest Russian interference in the 2016 election, claims he presented without evidence. While Obama’s administration did assert that Russia attempted to meddle in the election, officials clarified it did not successfully alter the outcome.
The timing of Trump’s remarks followed statements from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who accused Obama and his officials of engaging in a “treasonous conspiracy” during the 2016 Russia investigation. Gabbard also threatened to refer several top Obama-era officials to the Department of Justice for prosecution.
Russia, for its part, has continued to deny interfering in the election.
Now, Obama’s spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush has broken the silence, calling the claims “bizarre” and “ridiculous.”
“Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” Rodenbush said, per The Independent. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.”
He added: “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”
Rodenbush also pointed to a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report that concluded Russia actively sought to influence the 2016 election in Donald Trump’s favor, specifically through Republican operative Paul Manafort and the WikiLeaks platform.
“Nothing in the document issued last week undermines the widely accepted conclusion that Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes,” Rodenbush said.
The renewed focus on 2016 election interference comes amid other tensions within Donald Trump’s base, particularly over the recent handling of the Epstein case. Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that no further Epstein files would be released and stated there was no “client list”, a statement that contradicted her earlier remarks.
The backlash has rattled some MAGA supporters, with the Epstein case becoming a key discussion point at Turning Point USA’s recent Student Action Summit.