Conservative commentator Laura Loomer questioned why Obama was meeting with foreign leaders while Trump remains in office, while influencer Nick Sortor accused the former president of potentially violating the Logan Act. Political commentator David J. Freeman, who posts under the name “Gunther Eagleman,” also criticized Obama’s visit.
Reports indicated Obama traveled to Canada for a speaking engagement
Obama’s Trip to Canada Sets Off Outrage In U.S….
Former President Barack Obama drew criticism from supporters of Donald Trump after video footage showing him arriving in Canada and greeting Prime Minister Mark Carney went viral online.
though some online commentators speculated the visit involved broader political discussions related to U. S. -Canada relations and trade tensions.
Welcome back to Canada, President @BarackObama.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) May 9, 2026
Thank you for joining us in Toronto for important conversations on how we can build a better and more just future — and empower more people to build with us. pic.twitter.com/S2lrJLL5Td
In 1803, Francis Flournoy was indicted after advocating for western territories to separate from the Union and align with France. In 1852, Jacob Levy was indicted for urging Mexico’s president to reject a proposed treaty with the United States. To violate the law, per Newsweek, all three conditions must be met:
- The person must be acting without U. S. government authorization.
- They must be communicating with a foreign government.
- They must be attempting to influence that government on an active dispute with the United States.
Obama suggested the principle of DOJ independence may ultimately need to be codified into law by Congress
Obama raised the issue during an interview with Stephen Colbert on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that aired Monday night. “The White House shouldn’t be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever,”
Obama said during the interview. “The idea is that the attorney general is the people’s lawyer. It’s not the president’s consigliere.” arguing that the justice system risks becoming politicized if presidents are perceived as directly targeting political opponents through federal prosecutions.
The comments immediately triggered pushback from the Trump administration. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson accused Obama of hypocrisy, arguing that his administration played a central role in the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation.
“Barack Hussein Obama is the king of weaponization,” Jackson said in a statement, referencing declassified documents related to the FBI’s Russia probe
But the administration’s most extensive response came on Wednesday from Blanche during an interview with CBS News in Phoenix. Blanche forcefully rejected accusations that the DOJ is engaged in political retaliation and defended the president’s constitutional authority over the executive branch.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI raid of the office of longtime Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas on Wednesday is part of an “ongoing” criminal probe.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 7, 2026
“This was a law enforcement operation during the course of a criminal investigation,” Blanche told CBS News’… pic.twitter.com/N6CBMZRp41
“Article Two says, ‘the executive power shall be vested in the President of the United States of America,’” Blanche said while holding a pocket copy of the Constitution during the interview. “It does not say that the Attorney General stands off to the side.”
“To the extent that President Trump calls me and says that he thinks we have a problem in this country
Blanche emphasized that the attorney general serves within the executive branch and argued that presidents are fully entitled to direct priorities involving law enforcement, immigration, drugs, and national security. whether it’s the scourge of drugs, illegal immigration, every American wants him to do that,” Blanche said. “And he should.”
