In response, Obama’s spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush issued a sharp rebuke.

“These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” Rodenbush said in a statement. “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, we typically do not respond to misinformation coming from this White House, but this deserves clarification.”

Rodenbush cited the 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, which concluded that Russia did attempt to interfere in the election with the goal of helping Donald Trump. The report also noted connections between Trump campaign officials, including Paul Manafort, and individuals tied to Russian intelligence.

“This report reaffirms the widely accepted conclusion that while Russia engaged in election interference, it did not successfully manipulate the actual vote count,” Rodenbush added.

The controversy comes at a time of growing unrest within Trump’s political base. Earlier this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that no further information would be released regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, including the so-called “client list,” contradicting her previous statements. The development has sparked frustration among some Trump supporters, and the case became a focal point during the recent Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA.