MAGA clamors for arrests as Trump accuses Obama of "treason"

The Trump administration's sweeping "transparency" crusade has electrified MAGA loyalists eager to see "Deep State" officials and Jeffrey Epstein's alleged clients paraded to prison.Now, some of President Trump's most prominent supporters say he must deliver to maintain that unity.Why it matters: Under pressure for his handling of the Epstein case, Trump is taking a big swing at MAGA's biggest bogeymen — the supposed cabal of shadowy elites who run the country, along with its army of unelected government bureaucrats.He raised the stakes Tuesday, declaring in the Oval Office that former President Obama and other ex-officials must be prosecuted: "Whether it's right or wrong, it's time to go after people," Trump said.Trump's allegations of "treason" stemming from the 2016 Russia investigation drew a rare response from Obama's office, which rejected the claims as "outrageous" and "bizarre."Zoom in: MAGA's expectations are stratospheric. Failure to land anyone behind bars could be seen as a betrayal — a break from the "promises made, promises kept" mantra that has defined Trump's relationship with his base."If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted Monday."If not," she warned, "the base will turn and there's no going back."Driving the news: Trump dramatically upped the ante in just the past few days, after spending weeks under fire for dismissing the Epstein files as a "hoax."The Justice Department asked a federal court to unseal "pertinent" grand jury testimony from Epstein's sex trafficking case, a subject of intense public scrutiny because of his ties to global elites and mysterious death in federal custody in 2019.Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is also seeking a meeting with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in his sex trafficking ring.Also this week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused former Obama-era intelligence officials of a "treasonous conspiracy" over their role in investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election.During an Oval Office event with the president of the Philippines, Trump deflected Epstein questions and launched into a broadside accusing Obama himself of manufacturing the "Russia hoax.""He's guilty. This was treason. This was every word you can think of," Trump said, baselessly accusing the former president of attempting to rig the 2016 election.Zoom in: MAGA is taking Trump at his word and setting its expectations accordingly."He accused his predecessor as commander-in-chief of treason — in front of another head of state and live on global TV. This unprecedented move makes the follow-through vitally important," MAGA graybeard Steve Bannon told Axios."The accused must be indicted, must be prosecuted, must be incarcerated when found guilty. The failure to leave it all on the field after DNI's and the president's charges would be devastating to the MAGA movement and the nation."Between the lines: This is a movement that doesn't appreciate being gaslit.Outrage erupted after Attorney General Pam Bondi teased Epstein revelations that never saw the light of day. If MAGA feels it's been strung along again, a rupture in the movement becomes a real risk.MAGA-friendly podcaster Tim Pool told Axios that Trump's most loyal supporters will likely stick with him no matter the outcome.But parts of the broader coalition — those who are motivated less by Trump and more by the promise of accountability — could start to splinter.Those are voters "who have backed Trump on a lot of issues, but who will boo him and condemn him if he backs out on the Epstein and the [Russia] stuff," Pool said. Reality check: It's very possible that MAGA won't get what it wants.The grand jury testimony isn't the full Epstein case file that activists have long demanded. And the Justice Department is already seeking to redact "personal identifying information" on top of victim information.Meanwhile, Gabbard's accusation of Obama-era "treason" hinges on a claim that no serious investigation ever made: that Russia hacked and altered vote tallies in 2016.Special counsel Robert Mueller and the Senate Intelligence Committee — chaired by now–Secretary of State Marco Rubio — both concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election through social media bots and the hacking and leaking of Democratic emails.What to watch: MAGA is still fiercely loyal to Trump, having weathered a decade of controversies together.As frustrations peaked last week, Trump's renewed push for transparency — paired with MAGA's backlash to a Wall Street Journal report about a bawdy birthday note Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein in 2003 — helped calm the base and refocus its anger on the "fake news" media."I'm sure there will be disappointment, but the MAGA movement trusts this president deeply, emphatically, and deservedly so," MAGA influencer CJ Pearson told Axios when asked how the base would respond if nobody is arrested.

Comments

World news

Delta jet aborts takeoff to avoid collision with plane landing in Mexico City

National Post

Comments

Similar News

Why is MAGA splitting over Israel?

Marjorie Taylor Greene warns Trump may lose MAGA base over Epstein files

A Maga influencer’s dilemma: press for Epstein files or side with Trump?

Trump administration delves into MAGA distractions in deviation from the so-called Epstein files

MTG says Trump will lose his MAGA base if Epstein files are not released: ‘There’s no going back’

Redskins and Indians and Obama (Oh, my): How Trump is deflecting from his Epstein Files bungle using MAGA greatest hits

No, MAGA Is Not Isolationist

Maga has called a ceasefire on Trump Epstein claims – but it won’t last long

‘The ghost of Epstein is haunting Trump’s presidency’: inside the ‘Maga’ revolt

Why the Epstein case looms large in MAGA world

Embattled MAGA rallies behind Trump after leak of alleged Epstein letter

The Wall Street Journal’s Trump story has united MAGA on the Epstein saga over their universal hatred of one thing

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins tells MAGA congressman to ‘walk and chew gum at the same time’ in heated debate

MAGA-friendly "manosphere" turns heat on Trump over Epstein scandal

Trump supporters burn Maga hats after he dismisses Epstein files furor as ‘hoax’

Trump goes to war with Maga over Epstein files – podcast

CNN’s resident MAGA defender hints he’ll run for McConnell’s Senate seat if Trump gives him the thumbs up

Maga media is having a meltdown over Epstein

First Thing: Trump calls Epstein rumors a ‘radical left’ hoax and condemns Maga ‘weaklings’

MAGA Republicans beware — Hunter Biden, of all people, thinks your blind loyalty to Trump is the right call

World news

Delta jet aborts takeoff to avoid collision with plane landing in Mexico City

ICE goes public with a new report on Canadian man who died in custody

'Largest hockey player on the planet': What we know about the 7-foot defenceman heading to Ontario

Ontario woman charged twice in the same day for trafficking cocaine

Exclusive: Trump admin seeks new jet to shuttle around Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel

World’s smallest snake measuring four inches rediscovered under a rock

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron sue far-right podcaster Candace Owens over false claims French president’s wife is a man

Texas lawmakers review catastrophic floods but say they aren't out to assign blame

Trump goes on FEMA spending binge announcing several states will receive federal funding months after disasters

Couple arrested for ‘lewd acts’ on a plane for performing sex act in their seats while children watched, cops say

Charlie Kirk, who raged against Murdoch media’s ‘hit job’ on Trump, tapped to host Fox & Friends Weekend

New dad killed in wreck with dump truck while heading to pick up wife and newborn from hospital

Two tuna products recalled over listeria fears

'Solving all the world's problems': Ford stayed up late with Carney for fireside chat at Muskoka cottage

Watch live: Brian Kohberger sentenced for murdering four Idaho students

New York man built and planted bombs on Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan rooftops, authorities say

Terrifying moment dad pleads with ICE agents to let his child out of the car at daycare before they arrest him

Pro-Palestinian protesters expelled from Columbia University

Idaho college killer Bryan Kohberger faces victim families as he’s sentenced for 4 grisly murders

Trump ‘hung up after 30 seconds’ on the phone with CNN reporter who called to ask about new Epstein photos

Air India reports no issues with fuel switches in Boeing fleet after Ahmedabad crash kills 260

Police forces lose more than 1,000 officers – threatening Labour crime crackdown

Prison officers are set up to fail – and it all starts with recruitment

The best and worst places for 5G signal in the UK, mapped

All the airline and airport strikes affecting travel this summer holiday

Rape victims could have health data and sexual history trawled by police AI tool

‘What’s evil about bubbles?’ How Ozzy Osbourne became the ultimate reality TV star

Unforgivable cast and filming locations for BBC drama

Exclusive: Tillis describes moment he decided not to run again

UK and India about to sign landmark trade deal but not everyone's happy

For hope on climate change, UN chief is putting his faith in market forces

Four slain students, a weeks-long manhunt but no motive: Everything we know as Idaho mass murderer set to be sentenced

New York police chief placed on leave after girlfriend ‘attacks teen neighbors’ in viral video

Tulsi Gabbard says ‘further documents’ to be released today proving ‘Obama coup’

Ghislaine Maxwell’s brother thanks Donald Trump for his ‘positive statement’ about his sister in 2020

Shark bites surfer’s leg in bloody attack off Canary Island’s coast

Majorca beach evacuated after elderly swimmer attacked by savage fish

‘Everyone is using AI’: The growing impact AI is having on teens’ lives

Delta pilot about to fly transatlantic route failed breathalyzer, officials say

Famous peacocks and peahens ‘stolen’ from historic hotel

Will Japan become the latest country to fall to the populist right?

I’ve heard enough words – I want more Government action on Israel-Palestine

BBC will air new MasterChef series with sacked hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode

What we know about Air India captain’s ‘mental health issues’

The government stepped in to clean up a disaster in North Carolina. Then they created another one.

Exclusive: Sen. Slotkin says Dems are "divided" on Trump 2.0

Indian police arrest a suspected scammer running a fake embassy near New Delhi

Officials say Syria has asked Turkey for defense support amid sectarian clashes

Indonesian police arrest 44 people suspected of starting forest fires

Zelenskyy faces backlash as Ukrainians protest new anti-corruption law

Taliban say efforts to release a British couple from Afghan prison not yet complete

Japan's Ishiba denies resignation plans despite election loss, says he will focus on US trade deal

Don Cherry, one of the greatest Canadians in the nation's history — for a time

Teeth marks on fossil show ‘terror bird’ may have been killed in vicious battle with caiman 13 million years ago

What to expect at sentencing for Idaho murders killer Bryan Kohberger

Initial autopsy classifies ‘missing’ girl’s drowning death a homicide

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will comply with Trump’s ban on trans women in women’s sports