United States President Donald Trump has reignited long-running election conspiracy theories, calling for the arrest of former US president Barack Obama during an early-morning posting spree on Truth Social.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump revisited claims about both his 2016 victory and his 2020 election loss, amplifying allegations that have repeatedly been dismissed by US courts and election officials.
He reposted commentary from Fox News host Jesse Watters, who alleged that Obama personally ordered the CIA to spy on Trump during the 2016 campaign. One repost bluntly declared: “ARREST OBAMA NOW.”
According to Trump’s posts, the Obama administration allegedly fabricated evidence to undermine his 2016 campaign. However, publicly available reports show that information about possible links between Trump’s campaign and Russia only emerged after the election. Media investigations into Russian hacking, online influence campaigns and disinformation efforts were widely reported throughout 2016, including by The Washington Post.
Alongside the renewed “Russiagate” claims, he again focused heavily on the 2020 presidential election, which he continues to falsely describe as “crooked”.
The US president shared screenshots from users on X who echoed his assertion that he actually won the election, despite multiple recounts, audits and court rulings confirming Joe Biden’s victory.
Trump also posted a CNN clip discussing Republican prospects in Georgia in 2024, though he offered no explanation for how it related to his ongoing claims about the 2020 vote.
In another post, he amplified a conspiracy theory previously promoted by former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, alleging that the Chinese government funds left-wing organisations in the United States, including the Minnesota Immigration Rights Action Committee.
