&w=3840&q=100)
Ex-US NSA John Bolton lambasts Tulsi Gabbard over ‘treasonous' Obama report, calls it 'exaggerated'
US President Donald Trump's former National Security Adviser John Bolton slammed US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for accusing former US President Barack Obama of engaging in a 'coup' against Trump. Last week, Gabbard stirred a storm after she declassified so-called evidence that she claimed revealed 'treasonous conspiracy' committed by Obama and his aide.
The DNI's report centres on the Obama administration's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Bolton, a known Trump critic, called Gabbard's findings 'exaggerated' and lacking in substance. 'She's strung together a series of things that aren't necessarily related, she's exaggerated what actual congressional reports have said, she's imagined evidence that doesn't exist,' Bolton told News Nation on Friday.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'So, if anybody gets into it, it collapses pretty quickly. But as a campaign to save her job, I think it actually worked out pretty successfully for her,' he continued. It is pertinent to note that Gabbard's report against Obama came a week after several US media speculated that Trump was 'losing confidence' in her.
There's nothing to it: Bolton
When asked if Gabbard's report was a distraction tactic from the media frenzy over Trump's ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Bolton reiterated that there was no substance in Gabbard's report. 'Whether it succeeded in distracting from the Jeffrey Epstein affair, I don't know,' he remarked. 'But there is, in substance, nothing to it and certainly no justification for the Justice Department to launch a criminal investigation," he added.
Gabbard's infamous report accuses Obama and the former intelligence community of leaking false information to the media using what she claimed was 'politicised intelligence' to subvert Trump's 2016 election victory. The report is based on the investigation conducted by the Republicans in the House of Representatives, and goes against CIA reports that Russia tried to help Trump in 2016.
'The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government,' the DNI said in a statement from the White House this week.
'Their goal was to subvert the will of the American people and enact what was essentially a years-long coup with the objective of trying to usurp the President from fulfilling the mandate bestowed upon him by the American people," the statement further reads.
Soon after the report was released, Democrats, including Obama, accused the Trump administration of trying to use the case to distract from the uproar over the so-called Epstein files. 'These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,' a spokesperson for the office of the former president said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a few seconds ago
- First Post
'Stuck in a rut': Russia mocks Trump's sanction threat, says 'have developed certain immunity'
Russia has dismissed Donald Trump's threat of new sanctions, saying it has developed 'immunity' after years under Western pressure. Kremlin officials mocked the US approach, calling sanctions a failed and repetitive tactic. read more As US President Donald Trump sharpens his rhetoric on Russia's role in the Ukraine war, the Kremlin has brushed off his threat of fresh sanctions as predictable and ineffective. Moscow officials claim the country has adapted to years of economic pressure, minimising the impact of punitive Western measures. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian economy has been functioning under 'a huge number of restrictions' and is now largely immune to additional penalties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Echoing that sentiment, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the new threat as 'routine,' saying Washington and its allies appear unable to move beyond their sanctions playbook. 'It seems as if they are constantly stuck in a rut,' she said, arguing that the sanctions have failed to change Moscow's course and instead backfired on Western economies. The comments signal that Russia is likely to continue its current posture on Ukraine, even in the face of renewed pressure from a possible second Trump administration. 'We have been living under a huge number of sanctions for quite a long time, our economy operates under a huge number of restrictions,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 'Therefore, of course, we have already developed a certain immunity in this regard, and we continue to note all statements that come from President Trump, from other international representatives on this matter." Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia in 10 days if Moscow showed no progress towards ending its more than three-year-long war in Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the threat of new sanctions 'routine' and said it was odd that the US and the West had not yet understood that imposing such measures did not work and only served to hurt Western economies. 'We see that the West simply cannot let go of the issue of sanctions. It seems as if they are constantly stuck in a rut,' Zakharova told a news briefing in Moscow. 'Apparently, there are no other options left - they have been exhausted. We are responding and taking measures to counteract all of this or even turn it to our own advantage." With inputs from agencies
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
a few seconds ago
- First Post
Trump imposes 25% tariff plus penalty on Indian imports: How it compares to other nations
Indonesia will face a 19% duty, while Vietnam and the Philippines will be subject to a 20% tariff. India, meanwhile, faces both the base tariff and a penalty, making it one of the most heavily targeted among Asian trading partners, according to a report read more As Washington moves to impose a 25% tariff along with additional penalties on Indian goods, India's trade with the United States is set to encounter major challenges beginning August 1. Announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, the measure is expected to significantly impact high-growth export sectors including chemicals, machinery, and electronics. According to a MoneyControl report, the decision threatens to stall India's recent export momentum in the US — one of its fastest-expanding markets — and adds new uncertainty to bilateral trade ties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US tariffs on Indian goods exceed those imposed on comparable economies. Indonesia will face a 19% duty, while Vietnam and the Philippines will be subject to a 20% tariff. India, meanwhile, faces both the base tariff and a penalty, making it one of the most heavily targeted among Asian trading partners, added the report. 'Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country. Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!' Trump posted on Truth Social. India's trade with the US has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from $64.6 billion in 2013 to $118.4 billion in 2024, according to MoneyControl, citing its analysis of UN COMTRADE data. The growth has been led primarily by exports, which surged 89.3%, from $42 billion in 2013 to $79.4 billion in 2024, while imports grew at a more moderate pace. Beyond the increase in volume, the composition of trade has undergone a notable transformation. Traditional exports such as textiles, apparel, and stone products have declined in share, giving way to a sharp rise in machinery, electronics, and chemicals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By 2024, machinery and electronics accounted for nearly 25% of India's exports to the US, up from under 8% in 2013. Chemical exports also saw significant growth as India expanded into more high-value segments, reflecting a broader shift in the country's export strategy, added the report. On the import side, India's reliance on the United States for energy has grown markedly in recent years. In 2024, fuels accounted for 31.5% of India's imports from the US, a sharp increase from just 7% in 2013. Imports of metals also saw an uptick, rising from 4.8% to 7.1% over the same period, highlighting a broader diversification in trade. Beyond merchandise, India's economic partnership with the US has deepened significantly. American foreign direct investment (FDI) in India jumped from $20.3 billion in FY17 to $70.7 billion in FY25, signaling growing investor confidence and tighter economic integration between the two nations, reported MoneyControl. Strategic cooperation has also expanded. The US now accounts for 13% of India's arms imports—up from 8% fifteen years ago—reflecting stronger defence ties between the two democracies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The tariff announcement comes just a week after India signed a major free trade agreement with the United Kingdom, further cementing its evolving role in global trade dynamics. With inputs from agencies
India Today
a few seconds ago
- India Today
Trump targets India with 25% tariff, penalties over Russian oil imports
What's new:President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports from August 1, along with a separate penalty for New Delhi's continued oil and defence purchases from it matters: The US is India's top export market, with bilateral trade worth nearly $128 billion in 2024. The sudden move ends months of trade talks and risks escalating tensions. It may also trigger secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian energy. advertisementIn Numbers25% — New U.S. tariff on Indian imports starting August 1.$127.9B — The size of India–U.S. trade in 2024.50% — The Highest tariff rate the U.S. will apply on some 1 — U.S. ranking as India's largest export DepthTrump's latest trade strike on India is part of a broader August 1 package that slaps higher tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners, including Canada and Mexico. In some cases, the rates reach 50%.In a Truth Social post, Trump accused India of having 'among the highest tariffs in the world' and imposing 'strenuous and obnoxious' non-tariff barriers. He also cited India's large defence and energy purchases from Russia — the latter a flashpoint amid the war in Ukraine — as grounds for an extra announcement effectively derails months of efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to secure special treatment. Since February, when Modi made a high-profile visit to the White House, India had rolled back some tariffs and offered concessions on trade and immigration. But talks stalled in recent weeks over agriculture and market had previously hinted at a 'very big' trade deal that would open India to U.S. businesses. Trump flipped, warning of a 20-25% tariff. The penalty on Russian energy purchases adds a geopolitical sting. Big PictureThe U.S. move comes as Trump presses Russia to accept a 10-day truce in Ukraine. The penalty on India could preview a wider U.S. push to punish countries helping Russia's economy, even indirectly. India's tariffs threaten export revenue and its balance between the US and Russia. India buys a lot of energy and defence products from Russia, despite growing US ties. The new tariffs may force India to rethink its trade and foreign They Said'India has among the highest tariffs in the world... and is Russia's largest buyer of energy,' — Donald Trump, U.S. President- Ends
