DNI Tulsi Gabbard Alleges Obama-Era "Treasonous Conspiracy" Over 2016 Election; DOJ Initiates Review

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has leveled serious accusations against former President Barack Obama, alleging he orchestrated a "years-long coup" and "treasonous conspiracy" against then-President-elect Donald Trump following the 2016 election. These claims, made public in July 2025, prompted the Department of Justice to announce a "strike force" to assess the allegations.

The core of Gabbard's claims centers on what she described as the manipulation of intelligence to undermine the 2016 election outcome. A social media post, echoing these sentiments, quoted Gabbard stating: > "When you see the intent to manufacture a false, fabricated intelligence document that directly contradicts multiple assessments made by the intelligence community, whose explicit intent and what transpired can only be described as a multi-year coup and a 'treasonous conspiracy' against the American people." While the tweet's original date of December 8, 2016, predates Gabbard's DNI appointment in February 2025, the allegations align with her recent public statements.

DNI Gabbard asserted that intelligence assessments regarding Russia's influence in the 2016 election were misleadingly altered after a December 9, 2016, White House meeting. This, she claims, led to a declassified January 6, 2017, Intelligence Community report that concluded Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign aimed at the U.S. presidential election to aid Trump. She presented what she called "new evidence" of this alleged conspiracy to subvert Trump's victory.

In response, former President Obama's office issued a statement asserting that "Nothing in the document issued undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes." Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the Justice Department's formation of a "strike force" to evaluate Gabbard's claims and consider potential legal actions. Previous extensive investigations, including the Mueller Report and a House Intelligence Committee report, concluded that while Russia interfered in the 2016 election, there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian agents.

The DNI's allegations have intensified a long-standing political debate regarding the legitimacy of the Russia investigation and the intelligence community's role. Gabbard's actions, including the recent dismissal of two National Intelligence Council officials for "opposition to Trump," underscore the administration's ongoing efforts to challenge established intelligence narratives and prioritize its national security objectives.