Trump accuses Obama of 'treason'

Donald Trump on Tuesday accused his predecessor Barack Obama of "treason" and called for his prosecution over a report alleging that officials in the Democrat's administration had manipulated information on Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has sent criminal referrals to the Justice Department related to a report published Friday that asserted the Obama officials had been part of a "treasonous conspiracy."

Gabbard claimed Obama and his team had manufactured intelligence regarding Russian election interference to "lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump."

Her report flies in the face of evidence amassed in four separate criminal, counterintelligence and watchdog probes issued between 2019 and 2023 — all of which concluded that Russia did intervene on Trump's behalf in the 2016 election.

The Republican leader was asked whom the department should target over the report during an Oval Office press event with visiting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos.

"Based on what I read — and I read pretty much what you read — it would be President Obama. He started it," said Trump, who was criticized on Monday for sharing an AI-generated video of Obama being arrested.

Trump also singled out Obama's then-vice president Joe Biden, former FBI director James Comey, former DNI director James Clapper and former CIA director John Brennan as being part of a conspiracy.

But he said the "leader of the gang" was Obama, accusing him of being guilty of "treason."

UNESCO

President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the UN culture and education agency Unesco on Tuesday, repeating a move he had already ordered during his first term, which had been reversed under Joe Biden.

The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency, which was founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture, will take effect on December 31, 2026.

Philippine tariffs

US President Donald Trump agreed on Tuesday to reduce threatened tariffs on the Philippines, but only by one percentage point, after what he termed a successful meeting with his counterpart Ferdinand Marcos.