CNN panel erupts over Trump's allegation of 'treason' against Obama: ‘I'm not gonna calm down’
WASHINGTON, DC: Tensions flared on 'CNN NewsNight' Tuesday, July 22, as a panel erupted over President Donald Trump's explosive accusation of treason against former President Barack Obama.
Host Abby Phillip condemned the claim, questioning the state of a country where such unfounded attacks are made.
The discussion quickly spiraled when commentator Brad Todd deflected to long-past Democratic concerns about Russian interference in 2016, prompting former Clinton aide Keith Boykin to push back, demanding the focus remain on Trump’s alarming allegations—not political distractions from the past.
CNN panel blasts Trump's treason accusation against Obama
During Tuesday’s 'CNN NewsNight', host Abby Phillip strongly criticized President Trump’s claim that former President Obama was “guilty” of “treason,” expressing disbelief that such accusations could be made without evidence.
“He’s accusing a former president of treason and on top of that saying, ‘It may not be right, but I’m gonna go after them anyway.’ What is he talking about? And what kind of country are we living in that that is actually what he is doing?” she asked.
The debate quickly derailed when commentator Brad Todd shifted focus to Democratic allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Phillip pushed back, noting, “But it’s been eight years since the immediate aftermath of the 2016 election."
Former Clinton aide Keith Boykin challenged Todd, accusing him of dodging the real issue: “Why are we talking about this? This is not the issue. You’re trying to avoid the subject.”
Todd responded by saying, "We should note that because every liberal in America said that was the case."
Boykin, visibly frustrated, shouted that Todd was doing everything possible to ignore Trump’s baseless and dangerous accusation.
Boykin said, "You’re doing everything possible not to talk about the fact that the president of the United States, the current president of the United States, just accused a former president of treason and suggested a prosecution of that former president with no evidence! That is the problem!"
When Todd told him to calm down, Boykin snapped, “You can calm down. I don’t think he’s guilty of treason. No, I’m not gonna calm down! Why don’t you talk about that instead of talking about Obama?”
Todd argued, "Because Obama just undid three years of Democrat mythology," while Boykin concluded by saying, "The problem is this is what Trump does. He distracts everybody. He’s talking about President Obama because he doesn’t wanna talk about Epstein."
Donald Trump faces renewed scrutiny due to ongoing fallout from Jeffrey Epstein
The heated panel discussion comes at a time when Donald Trump is facing renewed scrutiny, largely due to the ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which continues to resurface in the media.
On Tuesday, CNN added fuel to the fire by releasing newly discovered images and footage that highlight Trump’s past ties to Epstein. CNN’s investigative KFILE team revealed two photographs showing Epstein attending Trump’s December 1993 wedding to Marla Maples at New York’s Plaza Hotel.
Additionally, the network shared video from a 1999 Victoria’s Secret fashion show in New York, where Trump, accompanied by his future wife, Melania, was seen chatting with Epstein.
Another image, dated October 1993, captured both men at the grand opening of the Harley Davidson Cafe in Manhattan. In the photo, Trump stands with his arms around his then-young children, Eric and Ivanka, while Epstein stands nearby.
