Former United States President Barack Obama has responded to President Donald Trump’s allegations of “treason,” after the current president called for criminal investigations over the Russia collusion controversy.
Obama’s spokesman Patrick Rodenbush dismissed Trump’s claims as “bizarre allegations” and a “weak attempt at distraction.”
“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. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one,” Rodenbush said.
The sharp rebuke came hours after Trump, speaking alongside Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office, doubled down on his accusation that Obama orchestrated a “treasonous conspiracy” to undermine his presidency.
Trump, who recently shared an AI-generated image of Obama in an orange prison jumpsuit on Truth Social, told reporters: “After what they did to me, whether it’s right or wrong, it’s time to go after people.”
When pressed on who should face prosecution, Trump replied without hesitation: “It would be President Obama – who started it – and Biden was there with him, and [James] Comey was there, and [James] Clapper, the whole group was there.”
The accusations stem from a controversial report by Trump’s Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, which alleges that Obama’s administration “manufactured and politicized intelligence” to falsely link Trump to Russia during the 2016 election.
However, Obama’s camp pointed to a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report that confirmed Russia’s interference in the 2016 election—though it found no evidence of vote tampering.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly vowed “retribution,” revisiting old grievances from his first term, including the discredited Steele dossier and the Mueller investigation, which found no proof of Trump-Russia collusion.
His latest remarks have reignited speculation over whether Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Justice Department will pursue charges against Obama—an unprecedented move that could escalate political tensions further.
Legal experts warn that prosecuting a former president would set a dangerous precedent, but Trump’s allies argue that accountability is necessary for what they call “the greatest political scandal in U.S. history.”
As the war of words intensifies, the clash between America’s 44th and 47th presidents shows no signs of cooling—with Trump’s threats of legal action threatening to plunge Washington into deeper turmoil.