Tulsi Gabbard accused Obama of directing a "treasonous conspiracy" and "years-long coup against President Trump

Tulsi Gabbard publicly accused Barack Obama and his administration of orchestrating a 'treasonous conspiracy' and a 'years-long coup' against President Donald Trump.

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified July 20, 2025

Multiple major news outlets including The Guardian, The New York Times, and Politico confirm that Tulsi Gabbard accused Obama administration officials of a treasonous conspiracy and years-long coup attempt against Trump. These reports document her calls for prosecution based on alleged manipulation of intelligence.theguardian.com politico.com nytimes.com

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim that Tulsi Gabbard accused former President Barack Obama of directing a 'treasonous conspiracy' and a 'years-long coup' against President Trump is accurate. Multiple reputable news sources report that as Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard made these accusations in mid-2025, alleging that Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 election to undermine Trump’s presidency.theguardian.com nytimes.com thehill.com

She called for prosecution of Obama-era officials, framing their actions as part of a politically motivated effort to delegitimize Trump's election victory.politico.com However, these claims are highly contested and have been widely criticized by Democrats and other observers as politically motivated and lacking credible evidence.nytimes.com The context is important: Gabbard’s statements are part of ongoing partisan disputes over the 2016 election investigations and intelligence assessments.

While the claim about her accusations is true, the underlying allegations remain unproven and disputed. This distinction is critical to avoid conflating her statements with established fact.

Primary trail