Obama Experiences Escalating Death Threats Following Trump's Accusations of Treason
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has faced an alarming increase in online death threats and calls for imprisonment, according to recent data. This surge in aggressive rhetoric has been linked to posts made by former President Donald Trump and Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence.
The increase was particularly notable on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, where comments calling for Obama's arrest or execution rose by a staggering 1,100 percent between July 17 and July 20. Similar trends were observed on other platforms such as Gab and Telegram, with a 433 percent increase on Gab and a jump from zero to 12 on Telegram.
The surge in threatening comments followed allegations by Trump and Gabbard that Obama and members of his administration manipulated and withheld key information on the extent to which Russia was involved in the 2016 election. Trump accused Obama of treason and trying to steal the 2016 election, while Gabbard released a report alleging that Obama manufactured intelligence regarding Russian interference.
Trump's accusations were rebutted by Obama's office, which called them 'outrageous' and a 'weak attempt at distraction'. The statement affirmed that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. Obama himself has denied the allegations.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle and a DNI spokesperson strongly condemned all forms of violence and believe in accountability for individuals who participate in criminal activities. The spokespersons' statements come in the wake of Trump posting an AI-generated video to his social media platform showing Obama being arrested and put in jail.
The Group of Patriotic Americans for the Here and Now (GPAHE) has also weighed in on the issue, stating that the increase in bigoted and violent rhetoric is linked to posts by Trump and Gabbard. The organisation has called for a stop to such behaviour, emphasising the importance of respectful and civil discourse in public life.
The findings were also affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio. The report concluded that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election, but did not change the outcome of the vote.
As the online threats against Obama continue, it is crucial for all parties involved to promote peace, understanding, and respect, and to avoid inflammatory language and actions that could incite violence.
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