The office of former President Barack Obama issued a formal response this week following accusations from Donald Trump, who alleged that Obama committed “treason” and rigged both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.
In a rare public statement, Obama’s spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush addressed the remarks made by Trump during a press exchange on July 22. “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,” the statement read. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”
Trump’s accusations surfaced while responding to questions about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Rather than addressing that topic directly, the former president pivoted to what he called Obama’s “criminality,” stating, “They tried to steal the election. They tried to obfuscate the election.” He referred to Obama’s alleged actions as “treason” and called them “criminal at the highest level.”
Trump’s comments echoed claims by National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, both of whom have suggested that Obama-era officials attempted to undermine the legitimacy of the 2016 election. Gabbard has indicated she intends to submit a criminal referral to the Justice Department.
Democratic leaders have condemned the accusations. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia criticized the narrative as an attempt to “rewrite history” and erode trust in U.S. intelligence institutions. House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar added that these claims serve as distractions from unrelated investigations, such as the Epstein case.
In response to Gabbard’s comments, Obama’s team reiterated findings from the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio. That report confirmed that while Russia sought to influence the 2016 election, there was no evidence that votes were manipulated or altered.
Obama himself has previously stated that while Russia attempted cyber intrusions, there was no successful interference with vote counts. “The votes that were cast were counted — they were counted appropriately,” he said. Despite repeated claims, no legal or intelligence bodies have validated Trump’s accusations.
