President Trump says Barack Obama ‘owes me big’ as former president could escape prosecution for his role in Russiagate

President Donald Trump said the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity in his favor last year could now benefit former President Barack Obama, Fox News reported. Trump told reporters Friday that Obama “owes me big” as it comes to light that the former president was the “ringleader” of Russiagate.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently declassified a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence report that was compiled in 2020. It discussed the Intelligence Community Assessment of 2017 about supposed Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The conclusion was that the since-debunked Steele dossier was unreliable and that the entire scandal was an “internet rumor.” Nevertheless, Obama encouraged the intelligence community to proceed with their investigation based on that false information just weeks before Trump was sworn into office.

These new revelations could potentially lead to criminal charges against Obama. However, his position as president at the time means that he will likely escape any ramifications, and it’s all thanks to Trump’s fight at the high court.

Trump’s Favor

According to The Hill, the Supreme Court ruled in July 2024 that the office of the president confers broad immunities from criminal prosecution. When asked by the press about presidential immunity, Trump didn’t hesitate in acknowledging that it would be greatly beneficial for Obama. “It probably helps him a lot,” Trump told reporters.

“Probably helps a lot. The immunity ruling, but it doesn’t help the people around him at all. But it probably helps him a lot,” Trump added.

“He’s done criminal acts, there’s no question about it. But he has immunity, and it probably helps him a lot… he owes me big, Obama owes me big.” Trump said.

Reporter Eric Daughtry shared a video with a biting caption against Obama. “JUST IN: President Trump on if Barack Hussein Obama can be criminally prosecuted for the Trump-Russia Treasonous Conspiracy hoax,” Daughtry wrote on his post to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.

🚨 JUST IN: President Trump on if Barack Hussein Obama can be criminally prosecuted for the Trump-Russia Treasonous Conspiracy hoax

“He has immunity, it probably helps him a lot. He OWES ME BIG. Obama owes me big.”

“But it DOESN’T help the people around him AT ALL.” pic.twitter.com/WE8nRQkoT3

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 25, 2025

Obama’s Response

In a statement released by the former president on Tuesday, Obama said that calling him the “ringleader” of Russiagate was among Trump’s “bizarre allegations,” which he firmly denies. “Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” Obama said in a statement through spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush.

“But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,” Rodenbush added.

“Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes,” the spokesperson claimed. Meanwhile, Gabbard stated that “deep state obstacles” had been put in place, hindering the release of the information.

“There are a lot of deep state actors still here within Washington. President Trump wants us to find the truth,” Gabbard said Wednesday on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime. “I want to find that truth. The American people deserve the truth, and they deserve accountability,” she added.

The Russigate investigation should never have been allowed to go on with such questionable evidence. Obama may not face criminal prosecution in this case, but as Trump said, there are plenty around him who were in on this and don’t have the same benefit who may now face justice.