Lead
In a late-night social media spree, President Donald Trump posted more than 50 times on his Truth Social platform within about three hours, targeting former President Barack Obama with false accusations and reviving baseless claims about the 2020 election. The posts, which began after 10 p.m. ET and continued into the early hours, came just before Trump's planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a trip that carries significant diplomatic weight.
Coverage Comparison
The flurry of posts drew attention from multiple outlets, with reporting from France 24 and The Guardian providing similar accounts of the president's actions. Both sources described the posts as an attack on political rivals, noting that Trump shared altered images of Obama, Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, and promoted claims that Obama had plotted a coup. The Guardian also highlighted that Trump amplified calls for Democratic rivals to be prosecuted.
Key Claims
According to multiple reports, Trump accused Obama of treason and espionage during the 2016 campaign, despite the absence of evidence. As one report noted, a 2017 Justice Department filing found no basis for such claims. Trump also revived falsehoods about the 2020 election being stolen, including assertions about Dominion voting machines and deleted votes, which have been repeatedly debunked.
Trump also attacked the New York Times over its coverage of his project to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Times had reported on the project's cost and a contract awarded to a company linked to a pool at Trump's golf course. Trump dismissed the coverage, calling the paper "one of the worst newspapers anywhere in the World" and claiming it was losing subscribers "on an hourly basis."
In addition, Trump shared a fabricated quote attributed to Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, alleging that Obama owed $120 million related to Obamacare. Kennedy himself told the digital outlet NOTUS that he never said that and didn't know its basis.
Perspectives
Some analysts view such late-night posting as a deliberate distraction from policy challenges, including rising gas prices tied to the Strait of Hormuz blockages and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Others see it as an expression of frustration with political adversaries. The timing, just before a major diplomatic meeting, has raised questions about the president's focus.
The posts also reignited discussions about the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and cabinet to remove a president deemed unfit. Such talk has been a recurring theme during Trump's second term, though it remains a fringe position among officials.
As the president prepares for his meeting with Xi Jinping, the international community watches closely. The meeting is expected to address trade tensions and other bilateral issues, but Trump's social media activity adds an unpredictable element to his diplomatic engagements.