In a shocking announcement on July 18, 2025, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused former President Barack Obama and his national security team of orchestrating a “treasonous conspiracy” against President Donald Trump following his 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton. Gabbard claims to have uncovered “overwhelming evidence” that Obama’s administration manipulated intelligence to falsely suggest Russian interference in the election, aiming to undermine Trump’s presidency.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, insists this is not a partisan issue but one that affects all Americans. She has submitted a highly redacted, declassified report to the Department of Justice, demanding accountability for what she describes as an attempt to “usurp the President” and subvert the will of the American people. The report alleges that Obama’s team, including high-profile figures like James Clapper, John Brennan, Susan Rice, John Kerry, Loretta Lynch, and Andrew McCabe, laid the groundwork for a “years-long coup” by fabricating claims of Russian election meddling.
According to Gabbard’s report, pre-election intelligence assessments in 2016 concluded that Russia was “probably not trying” to influence the election through cyberattacks. However, after Trump’s victory, a December 9, 2016, meeting of Obama’s National Security Council allegedly shifted the narrative. An email from Clapper’s executive assistant tasked intelligence agencies with producing a new assessment claiming Russia actively worked to sway the election. Gabbard points to a January 6, 2017, Intelligence Community Assessment that contradicted earlier findings, relying partly on the now-discredited Steele Dossier, which contained unverified allegations about Trump.
Gabbard argues that these actions led to a cascade of consequences: leaks to The Washington Post falsely claiming Russian interference, the lengthy Mueller investigation, two impeachments of Trump, investigations of high-level officials, and heightened U.S.-Russia tensions. She calls this an “egregious abuse of power” and a “blatant rejection of our Constitution,” urging that those involved be prosecuted to prevent future conspiracies. “The American people’s faith and trust in our democratic republic depend on it,” she stated.
The accusations have sparked controversy. Critics like Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) dismiss Gabbard’s claims as “baseless” and accuse her of rehashing old narratives to distract from other issues, such as the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Himes referenced a Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee report from Trump’s first term, which confirmed Russia’s aggressive efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, though it found no conclusive evidence of collusion by Trump’s campaign. Former officials named in Gabbard’s report, including Clapper, Brennan, and James Comey, have either not responded or declined to comment.
Gabbard’s allegations come amid the Trump administration’s broader efforts to revisit the 2016 and 2020 elections, including targeting critics like former FBI Director James Comey and stripping security clearances from Obama-era officials. Her nomination as Director of National Intelligence was itself contentious, given her lack of intelligence experience and past controversial statements. Yet, her report taps into lingering distrust among Trump supporters, who view the Russia investigation as a “hoax” designed to delegitimize his presidency.
As the Justice Department reviews Gabbard’s documents, the nation watches closely. Will her claims lead to prosecutions, or are they, as critics argue, a politically motivated attempt to rewrite history? The answer could shape public trust in America’s democratic institutions for years to come.