# Trump accuses Obama of wiretapping him **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 4, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384 "2017-03-04T15:07:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/341 "2017-03-16T20:29:22Z")
> [@de\_facto\_lies](#): > > I think we should put the word “debate” into quotations, there was hardly any formal exchange of intelligent ideas in any of those “debates” Yeah you have to have two intelligent people to exchange intelligent ideas. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/342 "2017-03-16T22:01:12Z")
“Spicer says Trump ‘stands by’ unproven allegation that Obama ordered wiretapping of Trump Tower” [http://wapo.st/2mxohwA](http://wapo.st/2mxohwA) > [@](#): > > White House press secretary Sean Spicersaid Thursday thatPresident Trump “stands by” his allegation that former president Barack Obama ordered wiretapping surveillance of Trump Tower last fall, despite statements from the leaders of congressional investigationsthat no evidence had been found to support the claim. > > In a remarkably combative exchange with reporters at his daily news briefing, Spicer was asked whether Trump still believes Obama ordered the alleged surveillance effort. > “He stands by it,” Spicer said,going on to assail journalists for the way they have reported on the controversy… When caught in a lie, what does he do? Digs in and doubles down. And the Trumpniks will believe him. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/343 "2017-03-16T22:16:57Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Yeah you have to have two intelligent people to exchange intelligent ideas. I did learn a lot about the Art of Looming, though. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/344 "2017-03-16T22:50:29Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > This is totally unsurprising. He watches second-rate news coverage, choosing channels that support his preconceptions, and Tweets about it. It sort of makes you want to find a Breitbart “reporter” and leak a story to him (“Obama hid the real photos & negatives from the inauguration in Area 51. The ones published by the NPS were doctored by the Deep State”)- just to see how long it takes to make it to the President’s twitter feed. But that would be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/345 "2017-03-16T22:53:42Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > This make perfect sense to 63 million voters… > > I. Just. Can’t. > > Fuckin’ hell!! As has been noted before, those people normally do realize it doesn’t make sense, but then they search for it, and find an interpretation they like, so that’s obviously what he “meant”. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/346 "2017-03-16T23:23:24Z")
You’d think Steve Bannon could sit down with Trump and explain to him that the things that they write on Breitbart and show on Fox are just a hustle for the marks and the rubes, and that he’s sorry that Trump was confused about this, but you shouldn’t actually believe that stuff. You know, it’s like the stuff you put out about Trump University, or how you’d get better cheaper health coverage for everybody. You know, bullshit. This is like Saddam watching Baghdad Bob on CNN and suddenly getting excited because contrary to what his cowardly generals and defense minsters are telling him, Iraq is winning the war. This is apparently literally what happened. Trump watched a show on Fox about how Obama wiretapped him, and exploded in fury and started Tweeting about it before Bannon could explain to him that it was just what we call pillow talk, baby, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/347 "2017-03-16T23:44:13Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > “Spicer says Trump ‘stands by’ unproven allegation that Obama ordered wiretapping of Trump Tower” > [http://wapo.st/2mxohwA](http://wapo.st/2mxohwA) This part of the article is interesting: > [@](#): > > In response to the allegations, which were first made by Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano this week, the British intelligence agency GCHQ responded flatly denying any such surveillance occurred. > > “Recent allegations made by media commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano about GCHQ being asked to conduct ‘wire tapping’ against the then President Elect are nonsense,” the agency said. “They are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored.” That’s way more than GCHQ ever usually comment on things, the norm in the UK being “We do not comment on intelligence matters”, and that’s yer lot. I do wonder how much work the “GCHQ being asked” bit is doing in the statement though… ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/348 "2017-03-17T06:14:00Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > This is like Saddam watching Baghdad Bob on CNN and suddenly getting excited because contrary to what his cowardly generals and defense minsters are telling him, Iraq is winning the war. [Post shortened] That sounds positively Kim Jung Un-ish of him… ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/349 "2017-03-17T14:12:43Z")
Probably already linked too, but I saw on [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/17/politics/gchq-trump-wiretap-denial/index.html) this morning that the US had to apologize to the UK for statements made indicating that Obama had gotten British intelligence to do the dirty work. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Washington (CNN)The White House has apologized to the British government after alleging that a UK intelligence agency spied on President Donald Trump at the behest of former President Barack Obama. > National security adviser H.R. McMaster spoke with his British counterpart on Thursday about press secretary Sean Spicer’s comment from the White House podium about a Fox News report that said British intelligence helped wiretap Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign, a White House official said Friday. > The official described the conversation as “cordial” where McMaster described Spicer’s comment as “unintentional.” > > McMaster also told his counterpart that “their concerns were understood and heard and it would be relayed to the White House.” > The official said there were “at least two calls” from British officials on Thursday and that the British ambassador to the United States called Spicer to discuss the comment. > “Sean was pointing to the breadth of reporting, not endorsing any specific story,” the official said. > A senior administration official told CNN that Spicer and McMaster offered what amounted to an apology to the British government. > Earlier Friday, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said senior UK officials had protested to the Trump administration after the claims were repeated by Spicer. > “We’ve made clear to the US administration that these claims are ridiculous and should be ignored. We’ve received assurances that these allegations won’t be repeated,” May’s spokesman said. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/350 "2017-03-17T14:23:19Z")
The TelegraphUK reports the the US has made a “formal apology” to Britian over Trump’s claim that the GCHQ aided Obama to spy on Trump. The people who made the actual apologies were Sean Spicer (to Sir Kim Darroch, Britain’s US ambassador) and General McMaster, the US National Security Adviser (to Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the Prime Minister’s National Security adviser). Spicer said on the 16th (or 15th) that Obama was “able to get it (the Trump wiretap info, from GCHQ) and there’s no American fingerprints on it…” and “Three intelligence sources have informed Fox News that President Obama went outside the chain of command - he didn’t use the NSA, he didn’t use the CIA, he didn’t use the FBI and he didn’t use the Department of Justice - he used GCHQ.” They have been called out about this lie and taken it back. > **[Donald Trump fuels diplomatic row with Britain after apology from US...](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/17/us-makes-formal-apology-britain-white-house-accuses-gchq-wiretapping/)** > > Donald Trump remained unrepentant amid a diplomatic row with Britain on Friday, hours after US officials made a formal apology for accusing GCHQ of helping Barack Obama spy on the then presidential candidate. I wonder if Spicer will mention this at the daily briefing. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/351 "2017-03-17T14:29:02Z")
What are the chances Trump will repeat this lie? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/352 "2017-03-17T14:33:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What are the chances Trump will repeat this lie? Ummm… 100%? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/353 "2017-03-17T14:36:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What are the chances Trump will repeat this lie? He’s been hurt so bad over this I can’t see him doing it again on this issue. He might IMPLY that it still happened to his base, but consider what the ramifications are that this thing has gone international now, and that the US has had to apologize to one of our closest if not THE closest US ally over this cluster fuck. Of course, on the other side of that we have…Trump. Considering that putting his foot in his mouth in a spectacular way seems to be his super power, I guess it’s going to hinge on whether his staff and handlers can keep him from flying off the handle or whether he will just bull ahead to the next fuckup. I give it 75% that he repeats this… ---
**Author:** ![de\_facto\_lies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@de\_facto\_lies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/de_facto_lies)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/354 "2017-03-17T14:48:55Z")
I wouldn’t put it past Trump to repeat these lies. However what i expect is him saying something along the lines of “well what we do know is if THINGS happened it would be from places where people possibly live and speak about british things, not saying they did it but things look like if something potentially could have happened it would be awful and british, bad wankers, mad they lost the war” Just going off what I’ve heard him say in the past. Also theres zero possibility of Bannon sitting trump down for a serious conversation explaining things, if he did he’d be out the job ---
**Author:** ![1iLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/1ileft/32/4114_2.png) [@1iLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1iLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/355 "2017-03-17T14:50:23Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > “Three intelligence sources have informed Fox News that President Obama went outside the chain of command - he didn’t use the NSA, he didn’t use the CIA, he didn’t use the FBI and he didn’t use the Department of Justice - he used GCHQ.” One would get the impression that Fox “news” is fake news. I wonder if the so called “president” will notice. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/356 "2017-03-17T15:07:04Z")
next up - it was done in the shadows by the shadow govt that Obama is running and of course there are no records of it - this proves that both teh shadow govt exists and that Obama did all this evil stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/357 "2017-03-17T15:58:22Z")
Trump’s Apology Tour begins! ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/358 "2017-03-17T16:58:26Z")
Think back on that golden age of our childhood ignorance, a year or two ago, when this would all result in Fox news having to fire 5 or 6 people, the white house having to fire 10 or 15 people, the impeachment proceedings, and the utter humiliation of the party in power. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/359 "2017-03-17T17:02:15Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > Spicer said on the 16th (or 15th) that Obama was “able to get it (the Trump wiretap info, from GCHQ) and there’s no American fingerprints on it…” and “Three intelligence sources have informed Fox News that President Obama went outside the chain of command - he didn’t use the NSA, he didn’t use the CIA, he didn’t use the FBI and he didn’t use the Department of Justice - he used GCHQ.” > > They have been called out about this lie and taken it back. “I’m against the people that make up stories and make up sources. They shouldn’t be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody’s name. Let their name be put out there. Let their name be put out.” ---
**Author:** ![1iLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/1ileft/32/4114_2.png) [@1iLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1iLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/360 "2017-03-17T17:35:42Z")
> [@simster](#): > > next up - it was done in the shadows by the shadow govt that Obama is running and of course there are no records of it - this proves that both teh shadow govt exists and that Obama did all this evil stuff. “Many people” are “saying” that Obama, in conjunction with the “Deep State”, moved the top secret location of the 1920’s Style “Death Rays”, without notifying the current “administration”. “They” are also “saying” it is vital Mark Levin and Sean Hannity don’t find out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=19)