• Trump accuses Obama of orchestrating a coup and colluding in election interference.
• He calls for severe consequences and investigations into Obama and his associates.
• Obama's spokesperson labels Trump's claims as "bizarre" and a "weak attempt at distraction."
• Trump cites a recent report from Tulsi Gabbard alleging manipulation of intelligence regarding election integrity.
• The debate has reignited discussions about Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election.

US President Donald Trump has made severe allegations against former President Barack Obama, accusing him of orchestrating a "coup" against him related to the 2016 election. Trump's remarks came during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office, where he claimed, "The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama." He asserted that Obama and his associates engaged in criminal conduct aimed at rigging the election and called for "severe consequences" for these allegations, referring to them as "seditious," according to aa, aljazeera, bbc, and trtglobal.

In his accusations, Trump labeled Obama the "ring leader" of a corrupt operation involving former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden. He asserted that evidence exists which supports his claims of intentional wrongdoing during the elections. Notably, he stated, “They did things that nobody's ever even imagined, even in other countries," indicating the gravity of the allegations made against Obama, as mentioned by aa and trtglobal.

Obama’s team quickly dismissed Trump’s assertions, with spokesman Patrick Rodenbush stating the claims were "ridiculous" and a "weak attempt at distraction." He emphasized that nothing in recent documents undermined the conclusion that Russia had tried to influence the 2016 election but did not manipulate any votes. The controversy escalated amidst Trump's ongoing grievances regarding election integrity and ongoing inquiries into the Russian involvement in the electoral process, highlighted by bbc and aljazeera.

Recent statements from Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence, accusing Obama of being part of a "treasonous conspiracy" further intensified the drama. Gabbard alleged that Obama manipulated intelligence to affect public perception regarding Russian interference in the electoral process. Her remarks have been challenged and criticized, suggesting they lack credible support, as reported by trtglobal and aljazeera.

This political discourse around the 2016 election and Trump's continuing claims underscores a deep division and highlights the contentious relationship between the current President and his predecessor. Many experts view Trump's allegations as part of a broader strategy to redirect attention away from his administration's challenges, a narrative reinforcing the tensions surrounding the ongoing investigations into electoral integrity, according to aa, bbc, and trtglobal.