U.S. President Donald Trump has leveled explosive accusations against his predecessor, Barack Obama, claiming the 44th president committed “treason.” The allegations come as Trump faces mounting criticism over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, prompting what many see as a strategic attempt to shift public attention.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump asserted that former President Obama, along with several top intelligence officials—including former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan—engaged in a coordinated effort to sabotage his presidency. Trump referred to this as an “unlawful conspiracy” designed to undermine him from the moment he won the 2016 election.
Initially, Trump claimed he chose not to pursue legal action against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after his 2016 victory, citing a desire to avoid political chaos. However, he now says the time has come to go after those who, in his words, “tried to rig the election and got caught.”
Trump Cites Intelligence Report as Basis for New Allegations
Trump’s latest claims follow the release of a report by Tulsi Gabbard—identified in the briefing as the current director of national intelligence. The report alleges that Obama-era officials fabricated intelligence on Russian interference during the 2016 election, allegedly to justify investigations that Trump has long described as a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
“They caught President Obama absolutely cold,” Trump said. “The papers are signed. The orders came directly from his office. What they did from 2016 to 2020 was criminal—treason of the highest level.”
Trump further alleged that documents previously classified have since been released, revealing evidence of Obama’s involvement. “This was not some vague group. This was President Obama. He was the gang leader.”
Escalating Rhetoric and Specific Accusations
Pressed on Gabbard’s criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Trump directly implicated several key figures. “It was Obama. He started it. Biden was with him. Comey, Clapper, Brennan—they were all there in this very room.”
As he spoke, Trump gestured around the Oval Office, contrasting the decor with how it looked during Obama’s tenure. “It’s more beautiful now. We even have the Declaration of Independence here—it wasn’t there before.”
Returning to the accusations, Trump declared with certainty: “He’s guilty. It’s not a question. This was treason. They tried to steal the election and undermine democracy in ways that even other countries haven’t seen.”
The Epstein Files and MAGA Disillusionment
While Trump stirred up accusations against political opponents, he also addressed growing unrest among his supporters over the so-called “Epstein client list”—a long-sought item in MAGA circles. Many believed the list would expose high-profile liberal figures allegedly involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking network, seeing it as a smoking gun of elite corruption.
During his campaign and presidency, Trump repeatedly promised to declassify the Epstein files. Allies like Kash Patel, later installed at the FBI, and Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent turned media figure, amplified these promises. They regularly appeared on right-wing platforms urging action and feeding QAnon-linked theories.
However, those hopes were recently dashed.
Shortly after Independence Day, the U.S. Department of Justice quietly released a memo stating that a comprehensive review of the Epstein files revealed no incriminating “client list” and no evidence of blackmail or coercion involving powerful individuals. The memo also reaffirmed the official cause of Epstein’s death as suicide in a Brooklyn jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Backlash from Trump’s Base
The memo’s findings sent shockwaves through MAGA communities. Many of Trump’s loyal supporters, who had believed in the existence of a hidden elite conspiracy, were left disillusioned. Some accused the DOJ under Trump’s administration of orchestrating a cover-up and failing to deliver on long-promised revelations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, appointed during Trump’s second term, has faced intense backlash from the base. Outraged supporters have demanded her resignation, arguing that her handling of the Epstein files represents a betrayal of the movement’s core mission.
Conclusion: A Calculated Political Gamble
Trump’s renewed attacks on Obama, Clinton, and the intelligence community appear designed to refocus his political narrative amid growing scrutiny. However, the combination of inflammatory accusations and disappointment over the Epstein files is causing cracks within his support base.
Whether these efforts succeed in deflecting criticism or spark further division remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Trump is once again embracing high-stakes rhetoric and conspiracy-laden narratives to rally his base—and reignite a deeply polarized political landscape.
