# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/101 "2017-03-05T20:00:36Z")
Trump demands a Congressional investigation. > **[Comey Asks Justice Dept. to Reject Trump’s Wiretapping Claim (Published 2017)](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/05/us/politics/trump-seeks-inquiry-into-allegations-that-obama-tapped-his-phones.html?emc=edit_na_20170305&nl=breaking-news&nlid=58341642&ref=cta)** > > The F.B.I. director wants the Justice Department to refute Mr. Trump’s contention that Barack Obama ordered the tapping of his phones, a claim that Mr. Comey says is false, officials said. Oh, goodie, eight more years of Benghazi, er, WireTapGate. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/102 "2017-03-05T20:02:59Z")
I see no reason for people or media to ignore his idiotic ravings on twitter or any other venue. He deserves to be called out and held to account for every lie and dumbass remark for as long as he is POTUS. Which, I suspect, can’t be much longer at this rate. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/103 "2017-03-05T20:06:43Z")
Kellyanne Conway 2.0 came out to say that [Trump meant that there was the potential that](https://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/donald-trump-started-this-abc-host-goes-ballistic-on-sarah-huckabee-sanders-wiretapping-spin/) this happened. Which requires one to ignore what he said entirely. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/104 "2017-03-05T20:10:42Z")
Stephen King on this imbecillic accusation: “Trump should know OBAMA NEVER LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE! He’s in the closet! HE HAS SCISSORS!” > Our President is truly a fucking moron. Disgrace. Sad. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/105 "2017-03-05T20:41:54Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Well, can’t Trump just be dishonest? > > Like, imagine enough of the public eats this latest accusation of his up with a spoon. Since I can’t readily rule out that possibility, it’s possible that Trump just says a bunch of stuff in hopes of getting people to suspect that maybe Obama _did_ wiretap the guy, and suddenly everybody is talking about _that_ instead of whether Jeff Sessions committed perjury and thus and such. > > I mean, granted, sure, Trump could be insane. But why rule out mere dishonesty? That Trump is dishonest has never been in dispute. But it does not account for this latest weirdness. No, it’s true – either Obama did something really, really bad, not to mention completely out of character, or Trump is Loony Tunes. Occam’s razor, my friend, Occam’s razor. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > I see no reason for people or media to ignore his idiotic ravings on twitter or any other venue. He deserves to be called out and held to account for every lie and dumbass remark for as long as he is POTUS. Which, I suspect, can’t be much longer at this rate. Hear, hear! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/106 "2017-03-05T20:58:44Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Why does Trump still think presidents can actually order wiretaps? You’d think he would have already tried this himself and found out otherwise. He’s probably ordered wiretaps of Hillary, Obama, every reporter who’s ever written or said anything critical of him, Alec Baldwin, and of course Rosie O’Donnell. And his staff just said “yes, Mr. President, right away, Mr. President”–because it was easier than explaining to him that he doesn’t have the power to order wiretaps. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/107 "2017-03-05T21:00:22Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > He’s probably ordered wiretaps of Hillary, Obama, every reporter who’s ever written or said anything critical of him, Alec Baldwin, and of course Rosie O’Donnell. > > And his staff just said “yes, Mr. President, right away, Mr. President”–because it was easier than explaining to him that he doesn’t have the power to order wiretaps. The sad thing is I think that is entirely possible. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/108 "2017-03-05T21:13:17Z")
It’s actually worse for Trump if his accusation turns out to be true. First of all, the first part of his accusation, that a sitting president can order a wiretap on any private citizen, is absolutely false, no ifs, ands or buts. So that is impossible, no ifs, ands or buts. So if Trump _were_ wiretapped, that means someone showed enough evidence to make a Fisa Court believe such wiretapping was called for. And if that’s the case, I doubt Traitor Trump would want this brought to light. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/109 "2017-03-05T21:16:43Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > He’s probably ordered wiretaps of Hillary, Obama, every reporter who’s ever written or said anything critical of him, Alec Baldwin, and of course Rosie O’Donnell. > > And his staff just said “yes, Mr. President, right away, Mr. President”–because it was easier than explaining to him that he doesn’t have the power to order wiretaps. …and immediately went out and hired script writers so they could include the ‘recorded wiretaps’ in his daily ego stroking briefings. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/110 "2017-03-05T21:19:27Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > That Trump is dishonest has never been in dispute. But it does not account for this latest weirdness. No, it’s true – either Obama did something really, really bad, not to mention completely out of character, or Trump is Loony Tunes. Occam’s razor, my friend, Occam’s razor. Again, though, this is a country where Trump _got elected._ Uh, somehow. I’m not willing to say, yet, that Trump’s latest announcement _won’t_ get lapped up by supporters aplenty. He’s somehow gotten a pass on prior eyebrow-raising stuff; why simply rule out the possibility of him just getting a pass on this one, too? What, if anything, is un-razor-y about saying, _yeah, maybe they’ll support him this time like they did before, even though maybe they won’t; eh, who can say, really?_ He’s gotten publicity while changing the subject before. Why not again now? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/111 "2017-03-05T21:30:55Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The sad thing is I think that is entirely possible. ☹ I’d be surprised if he didn’t ask about it on day one. Revenge is one of his obsessions, or so several biographers have written. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > …and immediately went out and hired script writers so they could include the ‘recorded wiretaps’ in his daily ego stroking briefings. Ha! Yeah, no doubt all those people have been saying _all day long_ ‘wow, he’s really doing a great job, isn’t he! I never expected it, but I have to hand it to him! What a guy!’ and the like. Keeping Trump well-oiled with flattery and praise is probably the first order of business in that White House. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/112 "2017-03-05T21:32:24Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > He’s gotten publicity while changing the subject before. Why not again now? Trump wasn’t wrong when he claimed that he could shoot someone dead on 5th avenue in broad daylight and there would still be people who adore and support him. These are not the people that his repeated stupidity will alienate. It’s the people who have something that resembles a functioning brain and the inkling of a conscience along with some self awareness that will begin to abandon him like so many rats leaving a sinking ship. And they won’t do it because they suddenly realize the democrats were right or that Hillary wasn’t so bad. They’ll do it out of self preservation because he won’t have delivered on a single promise he made in the campaign and has arguably embarrassed them more than they ever thought possible. ---
**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 5, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/113 "2017-03-05T21:38:54Z")
Just heard on NPR, Congress says (don’t have a cite- maybe sometime else caught this) when they investigate Trump’s contracts with the Russians, they will also investigate whether Obama wiretapped Trump. But I thought Congress wasn’t going to investigate Trump, because “it was pointless for Republicans to investigate Republicans”? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/114 "2017-03-05T21:42:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Trump wasn’t wrong when he claimed that he could shoot someone dead on 5th avenue in broad daylight and there would still be people who adore and support him. > > These are not the people that his repeated stupidity will alienate. > > It’s the people who have something that resembles a functioning brain and the inkling of a conscience along with some self awareness that will begin to abandon him like so many rats leaving a sinking ship. And they won’t do it because they suddenly realize the democrats were right or that Hillary wasn’t so bad. They’ll do it out of self preservation because he won’t have delivered on a single promise he made in the campaign and has arguably embarrassed them more than they ever thought possible. Well, hey, look, fingers crossed, sure, but also maybe that memorable quote about underestimating and going broke and the American public, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/115 "2017-03-05T22:01:06Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Well, hey, look, fingers crossed, sure, but also maybe that memorable quote about underestimating and going broke and the American public, y’know? Yeah, I hear ya; the masses are asses. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/116 "2017-03-05T22:06:48Z")
Apparently, Comey wants the justice department to [call Trump a liar](http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/comey-asks-justice-dept-to-reject-trumps-claim-that-obama-ordered-wiretap-of-him/). ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/117 "2017-03-05T22:13:20Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > I’ve always contended that establishment Republicans were also accomplices in covering up the Lois Lerner/ IRS scandal to target the Tea Party. Remember they took out guys like establishment guys like Eric Cantor. > > I wouldn’t be surprised if establishment Republicans like Lindsey Graham worked with Democrats for this wiretap. Remember it’s Trump and the American people versus the rest of the world. No. It is Trump against humanity with a few Republicans giving him support in the hope that they can get their own agendas implemented. Trump is not _with_ the American people in any context. (And what wiretap are these establishment Republicans supposed to be “for”? There is no evidence of any wiretap. There just another Trumpian lie along the lines of millions of illegal voters giving Clinton the popular vote majority, Trump receiving more electoral votes than any president since Reagan, and the Trump inauguration crowd being the largest ever.) ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/118 "2017-03-05T22:29:38Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > They’ll do it out of self preservation because he won’t have delivered on a single promise he made in the campaign and has arguably embarrassed them more than they ever thought possible. Well, it will be potentially embarrassing when it is exposed at the congressional/intelligence community level that right-wing “news” sources are not to be believed. But people who believe that stuff are not likely to connect the dots necessary to see how embarrassing it is that they are such suckers. The tricky part is: how to address this in a compassionate way? I don’t think scolding or insults will work. And maybe there is lead in the water or other pollution; maybe there are good reasons why some people are so cognitively impoverished. They need a kind of intellectual Mother Theresa. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/119 "2017-03-05T22:44:10Z")
This guy is so stupid, he’s backed himself into a corner in an oval office. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384/120 "2017-03-05T22:47:10Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > I’ve always contended that establishment Republicans were also accomplices in covering up the Lois Lerner/ IRS scandal to target the Tea Party. Remember they took out guys like establishment guys like Eric Cantor. > > I wouldn’t be surprised if establishment Republicans like Lindsey Graham worked with Democrats for this wiretap. Remember it’s Trump and the American people versus the rest of the world. I hope to correct rather than hijack, but the IRS did not target the Tea Party groups. Liberal groups as well as conservative groups had to pass additional review before getting their tax exempt status. Not a single conservative group was denied that status while some liberal groups were. So quit trotting out that old chestnut, it has no substance whatever. Now for the main event. Comey is a dick. But good on him for asking the DOJ to deny the allegation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-him/781384.md?page=7)