Donald Trump claims Barack Obama behind protests and White House leaks

‘I think he is behind it, I also think it’s politics, that’s the way it is’

Donald Trump has claimed he believes former President Barack Obama is behind the protests being carried out at Republican town halls across America, and the leaks coming from inside his own administration.

The President made the remarks in an interview on Fox News’ ‘Fox & Friends’. The broadcaster released a snippet of the interview, showing the President making the claims ahead of it airing on Tuesday.

In the interview, Mr Trump is asked about his predecessor and his role in the protests being staged at Republican town halls. He is asked: “It turns out his organisation seems to be doing a lot of the organising at some of the protests a lot of these Republicans are seeing around the country and against you. Do you believe Obama’s behind it, and if he is, is that a violation of the so-called unsaid President’s code?”

The President responds by saying he thinks Mr Obama “is behind it,” adding: “I also think that’s politics, that’s the way it is.”

Mr Trump goes on to blame Mr Obama for some of the leaks that have come out of his own administration.

“No I think that President Obama’s behind it because his people [are] certainly behind it," he said.

“And some of the leaks possibly come from that group, and some of the leaks, which are really very serious leaks because they’re very bad in terms of national security, but I also understand that’s politics and in terms of him being behind things, that’s politics. And it will probably continue."

The President has previously blamed the protests against him across the country, including in Utah, Kentucky and Tennessee, on liberal activists.

He previously tweeted: “The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!”

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has said some of the protests had appeared “manufactured”.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “I think some people are clearly upset. But there is a bit of a professional protester, manufactured base in there.”