Obama blasts 'bizarre' Trump claim of 2016 election 'treason'

The ex-president slammed claims that he suppressed intelligence as "a weak attempt at distraction".

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"They tried to steal the election," Trump said at the White House as he claimed Obama had sought to undermine his 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton.

A spokesman for Obama issued a rare retort, calling Trump's attack "a weak attempt at distraction".

Trump was referring to a report from US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard last week that accused Obama and his national security team of a "years-long coup against President Trump" - findings that Democrats have branded false.

Trump's comments on Tuesday came as he faced questions from reporters about late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.