Former President Barack Obama has become the target of a surge in online death threats and calls for his arrest after former President Donald Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused him of treason related to Russian interference in the 2016 election.
According to a new report from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), threatening comments against Obama escalated sharply between July 17 and July 20. The increase followed statements from the Trump administration accusing the former president and his aides of deliberately suppressing intelligence about Russian election interference to damage Trump’s presidency. Obama has denied the allegations.
Surge in Threatening Rhetoric Online
GPAHE’s data showed that violent and threatening comments against Obama rose significantly across several far-right social media platforms. On Truth Social, comments labeling Obama a traitor and calling for his imprisonment or execution jumped from three to 36—an 1,100% increase. On Gab, they climbed from nine to 48, and on Telegram, from zero to 12.
The spike came after Gabbard released a report alleging that Obama-era officials “manufactured” intelligence findings on Russian meddling in order to set the stage for what she described as “a yearslong coup” against Trump. Gabbard also announced plans to refer Obama and others to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.
Shortly afterward, Trump posted an AI-generated video to his Truth Social platform depicting Obama being arrested and jailed. The video quickly went viral within far-right circles.
Administration Condemns Violence—but Stands by Accusations
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek: “President Trump and the entire administration strongly condemn all forms of violence. The Trump administration also believes in accountability and that individuals who participate in criminal activity should be held to the fullest extent of the law.”
A spokesperson for Gabbard echoed that sentiment, adding: “Director Gabbard strongly condemns all forms of violence. She believes in uncovering the truth, investigating wrongdoing, and ensuring justice through proper legal channels.”
Obama Responds: ‘Outrageous and Baseless’
Obama’s office issued a rare public statement rejecting the accusations. “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, we typically do not respond to the constant stream of nonsense and misinformation coming from this White House,” the statement read. “But these claims are outrageous. They are bizarre, baseless, and a weak attempt at distraction.”
Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush added, “Nothing in the report released last week undermines the widely accepted conclusion that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 election but did not succeed in altering votes. This conclusion was supported by a 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report led by Republican Senator Marco Rubio.”
GPAHE Warns of Escalation
In its findings, GPAHE warned that rhetoric like that coming from Trump and Gabbard contributes to the normalization of violent extremism. “The combination of Director Gabbard’s and President Trump’s conspiracy-laden and racially charged statements has not only inflamed extremists but has also helped normalize language and ideas that have no place in a functioning democracy,” the group said.
Trump Doubles Down
Despite the criticism, Trump has continued to escalate his rhetoric. On Tuesday, he referred to Obama as “the leader of the gang” responsible for what he calls an illegal attempt to sabotage his presidency. “He’s guilty. This was treason,” Trump told reporters. “They tried to steal the election. It’s time to go after people.”
Trump also accused former CIA Director John Brennan and other former intelligence officials of orchestrating a plot against him.
As threats continue to rise, experts warn that the growing use of inflammatory rhetoric by political leaders could have dangerous consequences heading into the 2026 election season.
