President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of getting “behind” the protests that Republican members of Congress have encountered at town hall meetings across the nation.
The allegation came for the duration of the president’s interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Pals,” clips of which were released Monday. Interviewer Brian Kilmeade initial states that Obama’s “organization appears to be performing a lot of the organizing [of] some of the protests that a lot of these Republicans are seeing around the nation and against you.”
Trump is then asked, “Do you think President Obama is behind it, and if he is, is that a violation of the so-known as, unsaid, president’s code?
“No, I believe he is behind it,” mentioned Trump. “I also feel it really is politics, that is the way it is.”
The organization referred to is Organizing for Action, which describes itself on its site as “a non-partisan, issue advocacy organization committed to expanding the grassroots movement by coaching, educating, and activating civically engaged neighborhood members across the country.”
The group was founded in the aftermath of Obama’s 2012 reelection and occupies the digital spaces when owned by the campaign. Its chairman is Jim Messina, who was Obama’s deputy chief of employees from 2009-2011.
The organization advocates for the positions held by the 44th president, but as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, may perhaps not directly support political candidates.
“I consider that President Obama is most likely behind it due to the fact his people are certainly behind it,” Trump added. “In terms of him being behind issues, that’s politics and it will likely continue.
Organizing for Action’s web page links to the Town Hall Project, a separate, open-source group that compiles a list of events featuring lawmakers and encourages citizens to attend. The Town Hall Project’s list consists of events with both Republican and Democratic legislators.
There is no evidence that the project has any direct connection with Obama.
Presidents traditionally abstain from direct comment on the actions of their successors. Following the 2016 election, Obama repeatedly said he wished to help in a smooth transition to the Trump administration.
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