Just days after reposting an AI-generated video that falsely depicted former President Barack Obama being arrested in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump doubled down on conspiracy theories Tuesday—this time, from the actual Oval Office—accusing Obama of treason without providing evidence.
“They tried to rig the election, and they got caught,” Trump said to reporters, referring to the 2016 race. “And there should be very severe consequences for that.”
The baseless allegations quickly drew condemnation from Obama’s team. While a spokesperson said they typically don’t respond to Trump’s “constant nonsense,” they issued a rare statement calling the accusations “outrageous” and “a weak attempt at distraction.”
“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous,” the spokesperson added.
Trump’s comments follow a controversial criminal referral submitted by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to the Justice Department, suggesting possible prosecution of Obama-era officials.
Obama’s office dismissed the referral, reiterating that nothing in recent documents contradicts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election—but did not alter actual vote counts. That conclusion was also backed by a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report led by Republican Senator Marco Rubio.
Trump’s renewed focus on Obama comes as his administration faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Critics accuse the White House of deflecting from the controversy, especially after Trump refused to comment on a reported meeting between Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate.
Instead, Trump pivoted to even sharper attacks on Obama, labeling him the “leader of the gang” and repeating unproven claims: “This was treason. This was every word you can think of. They tried to steal the election. They did things nobody’s even imagined.”
The AI video that sparked the latest uproar was first posted to TikTok before being shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform over the weekend. It falsely showed Obama being led away in handcuffs from the Oval Office—an entirely fabricated scene created with artificial intelligence.
Trump’s repost and his explosive rhetoric have drawn bipartisan criticism, with many suggesting he is trying to divert attention away from calls for greater transparency in the Epstein case and growing demands for accountability within his own administration.
