Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited fresh political controversy by accusing his former President Barack Obama of “treason” in connection with alleged attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump shifted focus from ongoing questions around the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to claim that Obama and senior Democratic leaders, including Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, were part of what he called an effort to manipulate election outcomes from 2016 through 2020.
“They tried to rig the election, and they got caught,” Trump said, describing Obama as the “leader of the gang” and asserting that the alleged interference amounted to treason.
The remarks triggered an immediate and strong rebuttal from Obama’s office. Spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush dismissed Trump’s accusations as “bizarre,” “ridiculous,” and “a weak attempt at distraction.”
He said the former president’s team typically refrains from responding to what he termed “constant misinformation,” but that the seriousness of the charges warranted a reply.
The comments come against the backdrop of renewed public interest in the Epstein case. Trump has previously promised to release Epstein-related documents if re-elected in 2024.
However, that pledge was cast into doubt earlier this month when the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI jointly stated that no incriminating “client list” existed and that further disclosures were unwarranted.
The statement has fuelled frustration among some of Trump’s supporters, who have expressed anger over the lack of transparency.
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Some have even demanded the resignation of Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing the administration of failing to follow through on its commitments.
Epstein, who maintained ties with numerous figures in political and business circles, died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The latest exchange adds to the political heat as the 2024 election season intensifies, with Trump once again positioning himself at the centre of controversy.
