President Trump
Donald John TrumpAmash responds to 'Send her back' chants at Trump rally: 'This is how history's worst episodes begin' McConnell: Trump 'on to something' with attacks on Dem congresswomen Trump blasts 'corrupt' Puerto Rico's leaders amid political crisis MORE said former President Obama "had to know about" what he believes was a "setup" to prevent Trump from becoming president.
Donald John TrumpAmash responds to 'Send her back' chants at Trump rally: 'This is how history's worst episodes begin' McConnell: Trump 'on to something' with attacks on Dem congresswomen Trump blasts 'corrupt' Puerto Rico's leaders amid political crisis MORE said former President Obama "had to know about" what he believes was a "setup" to prevent Trump from becoming president.Speaking to George Stephanopoulos
George Robert StephanopoulosThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump takes gamble on North Korea 2020 Democratic candidates pan Trump's North Korea visit Ex-Bush CIA chief Hayden denounces Trump comments on Russian election interference MORE on ABC's "This Week," Trump insisted special counsel Robert Mueller
Robert (Bob) Swan MuellerTop Republican considered Mueller subpoena to box in Democrats Kamala Harris says her Justice Dept would have 'no choice' but to prosecute Trump for obstruction Dem committees win new powers to investigate Trump MORE's report cleared him of allegations of collusion with Russia and accused "lowlifes" in the FBI of working against him.
George Robert StephanopoulosThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump takes gamble on North Korea 2020 Democratic candidates pan Trump's North Korea visit Ex-Bush CIA chief Hayden denounces Trump comments on Russian election interference MORE on ABC's "This Week," Trump insisted special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerTop Republican considered Mueller subpoena to box in Democrats Kamala Harris says her Justice Dept would have 'no choice' but to prosecute Trump for obstruction Dem committees win new powers to investigate Trump MORE's report cleared him of allegations of collusion with Russia and accused "lowlifes" in the FBI of working against him.ADVERTISEMENT
"There was no crime. There was no collusion. The big thing's collusion," Trump said. "Now there's no collusion. That means they set — it was a setup, in my opinion, and I think it's gonna come out."
"You clearly believe there was a group of people working against you," Stephanopoulos said. "Do you think President Obama was behind it?"
"I would say that he certainly must have known about it because it went very high up in the chain, but you're gonna find that out. I'm not gonna make that statement quite yet, but I would say that President Obama had to know about it," Trump replied.
.@GStephanopoulos: "You clearly believe that there was a group of people working against you. Do you think Pres. Obama was behind it?"
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 16, 2019
Pres. Trump: "I would say that he certainly must have known about it ... I'm not gonna make that statement quite yet" https://t.co/J72Biz1YSs pic.twitter.com/xANi3MPLb7
Trump pointed to texts between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page disparaging the president, which have sparked GOP demands to probe the origins of the Mueller investigation, as proof.
The president's remarks came during the same interview that caused an uproar last week when a clip was released of Trump saying he would listen if a foreign government offered him damaging information about a political opponent and refusing to commit to going to the FBI.
Stephanopoulos ended the interview by asking Trump if he believed Obama spied on his campaign.
Trump responded, "I don't know. But hopefully we're gonna find out."
