Obama was ‘mastermind' behind Russiagate hoax
In a Friday interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, Trump responded to newly declassified material from the annex to Special Counsel John Durham's 2023 report, which ties Clinton's 2016 campaign and senior Obama-era officials to a coordinated effort to link Trump to Russia.
'I think they should pay a price. By the way, it's a very big price,' Trump said. 'For that to have gone on – it's one of the great scandals, I think, in the history of our country. I know it is.'
Trump accused Obama of personally approving and encouraging Clinton's plan to fabricate Russia collusion claims, citing declassified documents released this week by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
'[Obama] knew about it. We have it cold. [Durham] has it in writing,' Trump said. 'You could almost say that [Obama] was more of the mastermind. He heard what she was doing, and then he approved it – and not only approved it, he pushed it.'
Trump went on to describe the campaign as a 'totally fake' conspiracy that inflicted immense damage on innocent people and on the country itself. Asked whether Clinton should face consequences, Trump recalled choosing not to pursue criminal charges after his 2016 victory, despite pressure from supporters to 'lock her up.'
'I had her right under the sights, and I told the people, 'Look, you can't do this to a ex-president's wife.' And I let Hillary off the hook,' he said. 'And then I come in, and they did the same thing to me. The difference is, they meant it.'
Despite his calls for accountability, Trump emphasized that he would not interfere with the legal process. He said the decision on potential indictments would rest with Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom he praised as doing 'a terrific job.'
The interview follows the declassification of documents by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, which allege that Clinton operatives, with assistance from George Soros-linked organizations, orchestrated the Trump-Russia narrative and expected the FBI to play an active role in advancing it.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
China turns to BRICS partner for coffee amid US tariffs
Beijing has authorized nearly 200 Brazilian companies to export coffee to the Chinese market amid escalating trade tensions between the South American nation and the US, according to the Chinese embassy in Brazil. The greenlight follows Washington's decision to impose a hefty tariff on Brazilian coffee and other goods. The 50% tariff, which took effect in late July, targets coffee and meat – two key sectors of Brazil's economy. The move comes amid the broader trade war launched by US President Donald Trump against multiple countries. 'China has approved the authorization of 183 new Brazilian coffee companies to export to the Chinese market,' the embassy said Saturday in a post on Twitter, adding that the measure took effect on July 30 and will remain valid for five years. 🚢☕️ #café brasileiro na china! A China aprovou a habilitação de 183 novas empresas brasileiras de café para exportação ao mercado chinês. A medida entra em vigor em 30 de julho de 2025 e tem validade de 5 anos.#CaféBrasileiro#Exportação#China#BrasilChina# Brazil's Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade has estimated that 35.9% of exports to the US will be affected by the tariffs, warning that annual losses could reach up to $14.5 billion. During the 2024/2025 crop year, Brazil exported 7.468 million bags of coffee to the US, making it the largest destination for Brazilian coffee exports, according to the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council. The US accounted for 16.4% of Brazil's total coffee exports. In monetary terms, that amounted to $1.9 billion in coffee exports, along with $1.35 billion worth of meat. China's growing appetite for coffee appears to align with its latest move to expand imports from Brazil. According to data from the International Coffee Organization, coffee consumption in China grew by 15% in the latest season. At the same time, the number of branded coffee shops in the country surged by 58% over the past 12 months, reaching 49,691 outlets, according to market intelligence firm Alegra Group. The rapid expansion signals China's emergence as a key growth market for global coffee producers. Trump has defended the steep tariffs on Brazilian goods, citing what he called a 'witch hunt' against former President Jair Bolsonaro, despite the fact that the US ran a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil in 2024. Trump had previously justified his trade policies by claims that he intended to correct trade imbalances.
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
US to pilot $15,000 visa deposit scheme
The US is launching a pilot program that will require foreign nationals from certain countries to pay up to $15,000 for a tourist or business visa, according to a notice posted in the Federal Register on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump has made illegal immigration a central focus of his presidency, vowing to deport millions of undocumented migrants. His administration has expanded border security, tripled Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention funding, cut humanitarian programs, and detained thousands of illegal migrants. In June, Trump also fully or partially barred entry for citizens of 19 nations on security grounds and imposed a mandatory 'integrity fee' on all nonimmigrant visa applicants. Under the new program, which begins August 20, US consular officers may require visa bonds of $5,000 to $15,000 from certain travelers. Running for a year, the program applies to B-1 and B-2 travelers from countries with high visa overstay rates, limited vetting data, or citizenship-by-investment programs without residency requirements. Bond amounts will be based on applicants' 'personal circumstances', including travel purpose, employment, income, skills, and education. The list of targeted countries is expected to be released later on Tuesday. The State Department said it could not precisely estimate how many applicants will be affected, but expects around 2,000 to post bonds during the trial period. Many countries from Trump's earlier travel ban have high overstay rates, including Chad, Eritrea, Haiti, Myanmar, and Yemen. A US Customs and Border Protection report published last year recorded more than 500,000 'Suspected In-Country Overstays' in 2023. Mexico led with 49,000 overstays, followed by Colombia with 41,000, and Brazil, Haiti, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic with more than 20,000 each. Analysts have warned that Trump's immigration crackdown could damage the economy. Moody's chief analyst Mark Zandi said on Sunday that the country is 'on the precipice' of a recession partly due to Trump's immigration policies, cautioning that 'fewer immigrant workers means a smaller economy.' The Economic Policy Institute estimated that his mass deportation plans could eliminate nearly 6 million jobs, disrupt business operations, and cut demand for both immigrant and US-born labor.
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Russia Today
Top Modi adviser heads to Moscow for high-level talks
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is scheduled to visit Russia this week to discuss defense and security matters, the Times of India reported on Tuesday. Doval is expected to hold talks with senior Russian officials and is likely to discuss the purchase of more S-400 air defense missile systems, according to the report. India currently has three S-400 systems – part of a larger order of five purchased from Russia. The systems were put to use during the country's brief military confrontation with Pakistan in May. Doval's visit, though pre-planned, has taken on greater significance following US President Donald Trump's criticism of India's oil imports from Russia. ❗️🇮🇳🇷🇺 Doval to Visit Russia IMMINENTLY Amid Oil Threats from TrumpIndian NSA Ajit Doval is expected to drop in on Moscow this week to strengthen defence & energy ties. (TOI) 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits,' Trump said on Truth Social on Monday. 'They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine.' India has rejected these allegations, saying the US encouraged it to import Russian oil at the start of the Ukraine conflict to strengthen the stability of global energy markets. 'Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jasiwal said in a statement on Monday. 'The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable.' Trump previously threatened 100% tariffs on countries trading with Russia unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal with Ukraine. 'We hear a lot of statements that are actually threats trying to force countries to stop trading with Russia,' Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday with regard to India's purchases of Russian oil. 'We do not consider these statements to be legitimate. We believe that sovereign countries should have the right to choose their own trading partners for economic cooperation, to choose cooperation in the interests of a particular country,' Peskov stated. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is also expected to travel to Russia later this month, sources told RT.
