We’re used to seeing US president Donald Trump speak his mind on Twitter, but overnight he kicked it up a notch.
In a series of tweets overnight, Trump accused former president Barack Obama of “tapping” his phones in Trump Tower during the election campaign.
He named Obama in six tweets in a row, also making reference to Russian officials and the Obama Administration.
“Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my “wires tapped” in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!” one of his tweets read.
Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my "wires tapped" in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
“Is it legal for a sitting President to be “wire tapping” a race for president prior to an election? Turned down by court earlier. A NEW LOW!” another tweet read.
Is it legal for a sitting President to be "wire tapping" a race for president prior to an election? Turned down by court earlier. A NEW LOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
And it didn’t end there.
Trump also tweeted that a “good lawyer” could make a “great case” out of his accusations.
“I’d bet a good lawyer could make a great case out of the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October, just prior to Election!,” he tweeted.
I'd bet a good lawyer could make a great case out of the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October, just prior to Election!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2017
In his final tweet, he compared it to Richard Nixon and Watergate.
“How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!” he tweeted.
He also alleged that the Russian ambassador who met Attorney-General Jeff Sessions, met with the Obama Administration 22 times.
So, is it true?
Well, a spokesperson for Obama hit back at the allegations on Twitter.
“A cardinal rule of the Obama Administration was that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice,” spokesperson Kevin Lewis tweeted.
“As part of that practice, neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any US citizen.
“Any suggestion otherwise is simply false.”
A cardinal rule of the Obama Administration was that no WH official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the DOJ. pic.twitter.com/c5QD50nXac
— Kevin Lewis (@KLewis44) March 4, 2017
He’s not the only one to make the claim.
Ben Rhodes, a former policy advisor and speechwriter for Obama, also took to Twitter to defend the former president.
“No President can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you.” he fired back at Trump.
No President can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you. https://t.co/lEVscjkzSw
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) March 4, 2017
“This isn’t a campaign anymore. WH needs to explain what’s going on with these repeated blatant lies about a matter of justice and natsec,” he wrote in another tweet.
Whatever the truth is, Trump sure has the world talking.
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