For the better part of a decade, President Donald Trump has accused former President Barack Obama of helping to disseminate false allegations that he colluded with Russia during his 2016 election campaign.

Trump's accusation was recently vindicated by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, after which the president asserted that his predecessor is guilty of "treason."

Press release names multiple Obama officials

According to Breitbart, Gabbard's findings were summarized in a press release that her office put out this past Friday which named Obama along with other members of his former administration.

These included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former CIA Director John Brennan, former DNI James Clapper, former United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, former Secretary of State John Kerry, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe.

The press release stressed how the "Intelligence Community (IC) consistently assessed that Russia is 'probably not trying … to influence the election by using cyber means.'"

"On December 7, 2016, after the election, talking points were prepared for DNI James Clapper stating, 'Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome,'" it continued.

"Obama officials leaked false statements to media outlets"

Yet the press release observed that "[on]n December 9, 2016, President Obama’s White House gathered top National Security Council Principals for a meeting...to discuss Russia."

"After the meeting, DNI Clapper’s Executive Assistant sent an email to IC leaders tasking them with creating a new IC assessment 'per the President’s request' that details the 'tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election,'" it stated.

The press release went on to maintain that "Obama officials leaked false statements to media outlets, including The Washington Post, claiming, 'Russia has attempted through cyber means to interfere in, if not actively influence, the outcome of an election.'"

"On January 6, 2017, a new Intelligence Community Assessment was released that directly contradicted the IC assessments that were made throughout the previous six months," it went on to add.

Obama spokesman calls claims "outrageous" and "bizarre"

Breitbart noted that Patrick Rodenbush serves as a spokesperson for former President Obama, and he issued a statement denouncing Gabbard's report.

Obama spokesperson responds to “outrageous” and “bizarre” claims from Trump and Gabbard. pic.twitter.com/tfpZjGPDhC

— Niall Stanage (@NiallStanage) July 22, 2025

"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," Rodenbush asserted. "But these claims are outrageous and merit one."

"Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes," the spokesperson declared.