Tulsi Gabbard Accuses Obama of Coup Plot \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stunned Washington with claims that Barack Obama and his advisers orchestrated a coup to undermine Donald Trump’s 2016 victory. Speaking from the White House, she attacked the Russia investigation and released a disputed report, raising questions about politicizing intelligence. Democrats now demand her resignation over partisanship concerns.
Quick Looks
- Tulsi Gabbard alleges Obama advisers plotted a coup against Trump.
- Her surprise White House briefing targeted Trump’s political enemies.
- Gabbard cited old reports to revive debunked claims on Russia.
- She accused Democrats of “fabricating” evidence to smear Trump.
- DOJ announced a “strike force” to investigate her findings.
- Critics say she politicized her intelligence role for Trump’s benefit.
- Trump boosted her message to distract from Epstein controversies.
- Gabbard’s husband filmed the briefing for media release.
- Democrats, led by Sen. Mark Warner, called for her resignation.
- Her claims clash with multiple bipartisan Russia investigation conclusions.
Deep Look
In a dramatic and politically explosive moment, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard appeared at the White House briefing room on Wednesday to level sharp allegations against former President Barack Obama and his top advisers, accusing them of orchestrating a “coup” to derail Donald Trump’s 2016 victory.
Gabbard’s surprise remarks, which stunned even veteran reporters, represented an extraordinary breach of protocol for the nation’s top intelligence official — whose role is meant to rise above politics. Instead, Gabbard embraced partisan warfare, reviving long-dismissed claims about the Russia investigation and drawing fire from Democrats who now say she’s unfit to lead the intelligence community.
Flanked by a video camera held by her husband, a cinematographer, Gabbard accused Obama-era officials of conspiring to “subvert the will of the American people.” She claimed, without providing new verified evidence, that Democratic leaders had fabricated elements of the Russia probe in order to delegitimize Trump’s presidency.
Her briefing echoed Donald Trump’s long-running narrative that the Russia investigation was a hoax — despite multiple bipartisan investigations, including one by the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee, affirming that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the intent to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.
“Make no mistake: they conspired,” Gabbard said. “And they did so knowingly, violating public trust and the Constitution itself.”
DOJ Launches “Strike Force” as Report Released
Gabbard’s comments came as she unveiled a newly released report compiled by Republican staff from the House Intelligence Committee during Trump’s first term. The report does not deny Russian election interference but critiques the intelligence community’s assessment, claiming intelligence tradecraft was flawed and politically influenced.
Within hours of her briefing, the Justice Department announced the formation of a “strike force” to investigate the claims Gabbard raised. Critics say the move is a political response to generate headlines and distract from mounting scrutiny surrounding Trump’s past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Obama’s office declined direct comment on Gabbard’s presentation but dismissed her allegations in a statement the previous day. “These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” said Patrick Rodenbush, an Obama spokesperson.
Timing and Motivation Questioned
The release of these documents — years after Trump left office and well into his second term — has sparked questions about timing and motives. Gabbard was asked during the briefing why the findings hadn’t surfaced earlier. She claimed she didn’t know, but her office declined to clarify.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt deflected criticism, accusing reporters of manufacturing a controversy. “The only people who are suggesting she would release evidence to boost her standing are in this room,” she said.
But Gabbard’s proximity to Trump, both politically and personally, is increasingly evident. After publicly dismissing her previous assessments on Iran, Trump has recently warmed to Gabbard. Following her White House appearance, he pinned a video of her briefing to the top of his social media feed and referred to her as “the hottest person in the room.”
According to two administration officials, Gabbard recently met with Trump in the Oval Office to discuss her findings. Afterward, Trump reportedly told aides he was “satisfied” with her conclusions, which he believes validate his long-held claims that the Russia probe was a political attack.
Reviving the Dossier Debate
Gabbard’s report makes pointed references to the infamous Steele dossier — a collection of unverified tips and sensational claims about Trump’s connections to Russia. While the dossier was not the basis for the FBI’s 2016 investigation, Gabbard emphasized its inclusion in classified annexes of intelligence reports, using it as a tool to cast doubt on the broader assessment of Russian meddling.
However, multiple investigations have found that Russia engaged in a coordinated campaign to influence the election, including the hacking and leaking of Democratic emails and a sophisticated disinformation campaign on social media.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who previously served as Trump’s intelligence chief, recently released his own report criticizing the speed and thoroughness of the original intelligence assessment — but stopped short of claiming political misconduct. The CIA declined comment on Gabbard’s briefing.
Democratic Outrage and Calls for Resignation
Gabbard’s actions drew swift condemnation from Democrats, who warned that politicizing intelligence could undermine America’s credibility abroad. Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner said Gabbard had gone “beyond the pale” and predicted U.S. allies might now hesitate to share intelligence for fear of leaks or political misuse.
“It seems as though the Trump administration is willing to declassify anything and everything except the Epstein files,” Warner said pointedly.
Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, also criticized Gabbard, saying her conclusions “stand in stark contrast to the verdict rendered by multiple credible investigations.” He added that Gabbard had offered “no compelling reason” to dismiss those previous findings.
Support from the Right
Despite mounting backlash, Gabbard retains firm support among Republicans. House Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford praised her and Ratcliffe for trying to “restore trust in the intelligence community.” He also defended her decision to speak out publicly, calling it an act of transparency.
Gabbard’s political journey — from Democrat to Trump-aligned independent — has raised eyebrows, particularly as she blends her intelligence responsibilities with direct political messaging. Her critics argue that she’s more focused on building her own brand than providing objective national security assessments.
Whether her role in Trump’s second administration evolves further remains to be seen. But her briefing this week marked a defining moment — both in how the intelligence community is being reshaped under Trump and in how partisan warfare has overtaken even the most sensitive corners of American governance.
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