Donald Trump showed once again that he’s unafraid to stir the political pot, targeting former President Barack Obama in his most recent media appearance.
Speaking with Fox News on Sunday, Trump claimed that Obama had endangered American democracy by allegedly spying on his 2016 campaign—a charge he insists started a cascade of legal and political chaos.
“Obama is the one who threatened democracy, not me,” Trump said, referencing remarks from a recent podcast.
“He knew it was illegal, but he started it. And a lot of dishonest people were involved—I suspect they’ll be caught eventually.”
The former president’s comments highlight Trump’s ongoing narrative that Democrats orchestrated politically motivated surveillance against Republicans, a claim Democrats continue to reject.
Republicans Targeted During January 6 Investigation
Recent revelations have fueled these claims, with Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley releasing a document showing that several GOP lawmakers were investigated during the probe into the January 6 Capitol riot.
The one-page file, dated September 27, 2023, lists Senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, and Marsha Blackburn, along with Representative Mike Kelly from Pennsylvania, as subjects of the investigation.
Known as CAST Assistance, the document shows that the FBI’s cellular analysis survey team monitored the lawmakers’ phone records, shedding light on the methods used during what critics have described as an overreach into political activity.
Spotlight on Quiet Skies Program
Further scrutiny has come from independent journalist Matt Taibbi, who recently testified before Congress regarding the TSA’s Quiet Skies program.
Originally designed to monitor potential national security threats after 9/11, the initiative instead reportedly surveilled former Democrat congresswoman—and now Trump’s Director of National Intelligence—Tulsi Gabbard, along with three unnamed GOP lawmakers.
The program, which cost taxpayers around $200 million annually, was eventually shuttered under the Trump administration after failing to stop any terrorist activity.
Trump Frames Himself as the Target
Trump framed these revelations as validation of his long-held assertions that Democrats, including Obama, misused government agencies for political ends.
In his interview, he insisted that the current wave of indictments and investigations underscores the ongoing consequences of what he claims was an illegal campaign against him.
By tying together historical allegations of campaign surveillance with contemporary Republican grievances, Trump continues to position himself as a central figure fighting against a perceived system stacked against him.