Trump Sides with Gabbard on Obama-Era Intel Probe, Slams 2016 ‘Fraud’

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Former President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s call for legal action against former President Barack Obama and his top security officials, accusing them of orchestrating a politically motivated operation to discredit Trump’s 2016 election victory. Gabbard’s findings, detailed in a declassified report, allege serious abuses of power and intelligence manipulation at the highest levels.

In a July 19 post on Truth Social, Trump praised a Fox News segment hosted by Harrison Fields, in which panelists discussed Gabbard’s report and its implications. Trump cheered on the commentary, claiming the program had “prosecuted” Obama and his inner circle, and directly encouraged Gabbard to continue pressing for accountability. Gabbard’s 114-page report, released just a day prior, accuses top officials—including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey, and National Security Advisor Susan Rice of distorting intelligence assessments to frame Russia as responsible for Trump’s 2016 win.

Among the report’s key claims is the existence of a December 7, 2016, memo stating no cyberattacks had altered the election outcome. Gabbard asserts this finding was intentionally revised following a December 9 meeting at the White House, which she alleges led to a January 2017 intelligence assessment falsely suggesting Russia had intervened to help Trump. That report fueled the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and years of partisan controversy.

Though Gabbard has formally submitted evidence to the United States Department of Justice, no indictments have been issued to date. Her conclusions challenge those of several long-standing government investigations. A 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee found “irrefutable evidence” that Russian operatives sought to aid Trump’s campaign. Similarly, Mueller’s 2019 investigation confirmed widespread interference by Russian entities but found no direct coordination with Trump’s team.

Prominent Democratic lawmakers have dismissed Gabbard’s accusations as unsubstantiated. Senator Mark Warner, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, defended the 2017 intelligence report as the product of a multi-year, in-depth review. Representative Jim Himes echoed that sentiment, branding Gabbard’s claims of treason as “baseless.” Even former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, who was critical of certain aspects of the 2017 review, still acknowledged that Russia’s actions appeared to favor Trump’s candidacy.

The release of Gabbard’s report also coincides with renewed interest in the Jeffrey Epstein case. On July 18, Trump directed Attorney General Pamela Bondi to unseal grand jury testimony, responding to calls from within his political base for transparency on alleged Epstein-related connections. The Department of Justice maintains that no “client list” exists, though media outlets like Forbes and the Wall Street Journal have resurfaced past ties between Trump and Epstein, adding to speculation over the timing of Gabbard’s findings.

Despite pushback, Gabbard is standing firm, framing her actions as a pursuit of justice rather than partisanship. While her intelligence experience has drawn scrutiny from critics, she maintains that the documents speak for themselves. With Trump’s public endorsement, the push for a deeper investigation into Obama-era actions may continue to shape the political conversation heading into 2026.