Donald Trump, known for his outspoken criticism of political adversaries, continued this trend by targeting former President Barack Obama in recent remarks.
During an interview on Fox News on October 19, 2025, Trump reiterated allegations against Obama, accusing him of initiating illegal surveillance on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. This claim is part of Trump’s ongoing narrative accusing the Obama administration of attempting to sabotage his political ambitions through unauthorized monitoring activities.
In a conversation with Fox host Maria Bartiromo, Trump responded to Obama’s recent comments on threats to democracy. Trump contended that Obama was the actual threat, citing the purported surveillance of his campaign. “He knew it was illegal, but he started the whole thing. And there were a lot of dishonest people, and I suspect they’ll be caught,” Trump declared, further alleging that Obama’s actions amounted to treason.
Trump’s statements come as Republicans renew focus on allegations of politically driven surveillance. Earlier in October, Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley released a document indicating that several Republican lawmakers were investigated during the January 6 Capitol riot probe. The document from September 27, 2023, named Senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, Cynthia Lummis, and Marsha Blackburn, along with Representative Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, as subjects of FBI scrutiny.
The document was produced after former special counsel Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation, which examined the Capitol riot and election interference claims. It describes how the FBI tracked the lawmakers by analyzing phone records through its cellular analysis survey team. The investigation into these figures continued into President Biden’s administration, as suggested by the document’s date.
Furthermore, independent journalist Matt Taibbi testified to Congress on September 30, 2025, regarding the TSA’s Quiet Skies program, initially created to identify security threats after the September 11 attacks. Taibbi revealed that the program had monitored former Democratic congresswoman and current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and three unnamed Republican Congress members. The Trump administration terminated the program earlier this year, citing a cost of approximately $220 million annually without preventing a single terrorist incident, according to Gabbard.
Republicans have increased emphasis on claims of politically motivated surveillance by Democratic administrations, while Democrats dismiss these claims as unfounded. The issue has gained attention as Trump’s administration advocates for transparency regarding surveillance activities from prior administrations.
The interview was another example of Trump making broad accusations against rivals without providing detailed evidence. His focus remained on alleged surveillance during the 2016 campaign, which he has consistently described as illegal actions by Obama officials.
These allegations continue Trump’s long-term resentment about the scrutiny of his 2016 campaign and presidency. Throughout his tenure, Trump has argued that his administration faced investigations driven by political motives rather than legitimate law enforcement reasons.
The release of the Grassley document has bolstered claims of government overreach by Trump and his supporters. The disclosure that Republican lawmakers were subjects of the FBI’s investigation during the January 6 probe has heightened conservative concerns about federal investigative practices. The use of cellular analysis to monitor elected officials has sparked debates on privacy and the scope of law enforcement surveillance.
