Americans are tired of the two-tiered justice system. The Trump admin is trying to change that.
That’s why Trump has hit Obama with accusations of treason and directed the DOJ to open investigations.
Trump Calls for DOJ Investigation into Obama Over 2016 Election Allegations
President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate former President Barack Obama, alleging his involvement in a scheme to undermine Trump’s 2016 election victory. On Friday, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard released a declassified document, claiming it provides “overwhelming evidence” that Obama and his national security team “manufactured and politicized intelligence” after Trump’s 2016 election win.
During an Oval Office press conference, a journalist referenced Gabbard’s submission of a criminal referral to the DOJ and asked Trump which members of the Obama administration should face scrutiny.
“Well, based on what I read… it would be President Obama. He started it. And Biden was there with him. And Comey was there. And Clapper, the whole group was there. Brennan, they were all there in a room,” Trump said. “Right here, this was the room … If you look at those papers, they have them stone cold. And it was President Obama. It wasn’t lots of people all over the place. It was them too. But the leader of the gang was President Obama, Barack Hussein Obama. Have you heard of him?”
“And except for the fact that he gets shielded by the press for his entire life … Look, he’s guilty. It’s not a question. You know, I like to say, let’s give it time,” he added. “It’s there, he’s guilty. This was treason. This was every word you can think of. They tried to steal the election. They tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobody’s ever even imagined, even in other countries.”
The declassified document reveals no evidence supporting claims that Trump acted as a Russian asset or that Russia sought to “use cyber means” or “directly manipulate the actual vote count” to influence the election outcome.
An accompanying memo accuses DNI James Clapper and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of omitting critical context, specifically that the FBI and NSA had only “low confidence” in attributing data leaks to Russia in September 2016. The memo acknowledges “supporting evidence indicating the Russian government directed hacking of the DNC and [the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee].”
The memo further alleges that “Deep State officials in the [intelligence community began] leaking blatantly false intelligence to the Washington Post,” claiming Russia used “cyber means” to alter election results and that the CIA had “concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened” to aid Trump.
A whistleblower from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) stated they “could not concur in good conscience based on the information available” that Russia decisively favored Trump, according to the memo. Gabbard, in a public statement on Friday, called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those involved.
Americans’ Shifting Views on Obama’s Presidency
As time progresses, public sentiment toward former President Barack Obama’s tenure has grown increasingly critical, with recent analyses and surveys indicating a notable shift in how Americans perceive his eight years in office. Once hailed for his historic election and ambitious policy agenda, Obama’s legacy is now being reevaluated through a lens of disappointment and skepticism by some segments of the population.
A 2024 Gallup poll revealed that Obama’s retrospective approval rating has declined steadily since he left office in 2017. While 63% of Americans viewed his presidency favorably in 2017, that number dropped to 58% by 2024, with independents showing a particularly sharp decline in approval. Analysts attribute this to growing dissatisfaction with the outcomes of key policies, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which, despite expanding coverage, faced criticism for rising premiums and limited provider networks.
Economic performance during Obama’s tenure has also come under scrutiny. While the economy recovered from the 2008 financial crisis, real wage growth remained stagnant for many Americans, and the recovery was uneven across regions and demographics. A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that 45% of Americans now believe the economic recovery under Obama favored corporations and the wealthy, contributing to a sense that his policies did not deliver broad-based prosperity.
Foreign policy decisions, including the handling of the Arab Spring, the Iran nuclear deal, and the rise of ISIS, have further fueled negative reassessments. A 2025 RAND Corporation report noted that 52% of Americans now view Obama’s foreign policy as “ineffective,” citing perceived missteps in Syria and Libya. The drone strike program, which expanded significantly under Obama, has also drawn criticism for its ethical implications and civilian casualties, with human rights groups amplifying these concerns in recent years.
The recent allegations regarding Obama’s role in the 2016 election have added a new layer to this evolving narrative. Declassified documents and claims from figures like DNI Tulsi Gabbard have sparked renewed debate about the actions of Obama’s administration, particularly in the intelligence community. These developments have resonated with a portion of the public already skeptical of Obama’s legacy, further eroding his standing among some voters.
Political polarization has played a significant role in shaping these views. Conservative media outlets have consistently highlighted perceived failures of Obama’s presidency, from the Benghazi attack to the ACA’s rollout, reinforcing negative perceptions among Republican-leaning voters. Meanwhile, even some Democrats have expressed frustration over unmet expectations, particularly around promises of transformative change that many feel were not fully realized.
Despite these criticisms, Obama retains a loyal base of supporters who credit him with stabilizing the economy, advancing social policies, and restoring America’s global image after the Iraq War. However, as new information emerges and economic challenges persist, the once-rosy view of Obama’s presidency continues to fade for many, replaced by a more critical assessment of his impact on the nation.
