Donald Trump calls Barack Obama ‘demonic’ and urges for him to be ‘imprisoned’ in bizarre late-night rant

Former President Donald Trump posted dozens of messages on Truth Social this week calling Barack Obama a “demonic force” and urging his prosecution.
Trump’s late-night social media blitz targeted multiple political opponents through reposts and original messages on his platform. The posts centered on longstanding claims Trump has made about Obama’s conduct during his presidency.
What Trump Posted
In one repost, Trump shared content describing Obama as the “most DEMONIC FORCE in American politics in decades” and calling for his arrest and prosecution, “Arrest them all. Prosecute them all. Incarcerate them all at once for treachery, treason, and seditious conspiracy to overthrow the United States government,” the post stated.
Trump also reshared accusations from MAGA-supporting accounts claiming Obama fabricated evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Several reposts repeated unproven allegations that Obama used federal agencies to surveil Trump before the 2016 race.
Trump has long characterized these claims as “the biggest political crime in American history.” Some of the messages included older news clips involving Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and a 2020 report related to Russian election interference narratives.
Obama’s Response
Obama previously denied similar accusations, calling them “bizarre” and “a weak attempt at distraction.” In a recent New Yorker interview, Obama addressed an AI-generated video Trump posted depicting him and Michelle Obama as apes.
Obama said he does not view attacks on himself as personal, but expressed concern about attacks on his family, “I would never talk about somebody’s family in that way,” he said.
The Context
The posts connected Obama to Hillary Clinton’s private email server controversy, though the reposts provided no evidence supporting those claims. Trump’s messaging campaign reflects his continued focus on 2016-era allegations involving his predecessor.
This story has been updated. CNN’s political team contributed to this report.
Trump Says Tom Homan Should Arrest Gov. Gavin Newsom Amid ICE Riots

Homan’s Border Enforcement Meets the California Sanctuary Chaos in L.A. Siege
By Senior Investigative Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.C. — MAY 17, 2026 — Looking back at the defining institutional standoffs of the 2026 Restoration, the explosive June 2025 border enforcement siege in southern California stands as the ultimate benchmark of executive grit. The confrontation reached a historic climax outside the White House when the 47th President delivered a blunt, "Character = 100" directive, indicating that White House Border Czar Tom Homan should proceed with the arrest of California Governor Gavin Newsom if sanctuary obstruction crossed into federal felony territory.
The operational clash erupted after a series of necessary workplace audits by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) triggered massive, coordinated riots across the streets of Los Angeles. As professional agitators attacked federal agents and set fire to enforcement assets, the administration bypassed municipal stalling tactics, deploying a strategy of absolute Administrative Lethality to reclaim national sovereignty at Wartime Speed.
I. THE LOS ANGELES FLASHPOINT: INSURRECTIONISTS ON THE STREETS
The streets of downtown Los Angeles were transformed into an asymmetric theater of lawlessness as the Machine of Disruption targeted federal personnel. Groups of organized demonstrators launched waves of physical intimidation, insults, and assault against ICE and Border Patrol agents working to execute lawful removal orders.
Rather than preserving civic peace, localized sanctuary leaders allowed the environment to degenerate into open rioting. Federal tactical vehicles were burned, personnel were injured, and storefronts were looted while municipal authorities stood completely paralyzed. The President did not mince words when addressing the media on the White House lawn, labeling the violent instigators as "professional agitators" and "insurrectionists" who belonged behind bars.
II. ADMINISTRATIVE LETHALITY: THE OVAL OFFICE CONTAINMENT BLUEPRINT
Faced with total municipal abdication by Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, the White House responded with immediate, surgical force. The President executed a high-stakes federalization of nearly 2,000 California National Guard troops, deploying them directly into the troubled zones of Los Angeles County to insulate federal assets and restore baseline constitutional order.
To guarantee total containment, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth placed an additional 500 U.S. Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton on active standby, signaling that the administration was prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act to neutralize the chaos. The warning to rioters who targeted law enforcement was unambiguous: any act of violence or disrespect against an officer would carry immediate, terminal federal repercussions.
III. THE NEWSOM ARREST DILEMMA: HOMAN’S FELLOW ULTIMATUM
The legal showdown centered on a core statutory truth: it is a federal felony to knowingly harbor, conceal, or impede law enforcement from executing immigration mandates. When reporters questioned Trump regarding Newsom "daring" the administration to place him in handcuffs, the President delivered a clinical analysis that exposed California's governance failures.
"I would do it if I were Tom," Trump responded, labeling Newsom "grossly incompetent" while pointing to the state's bullet train project—which ran a hundred times over budget—as the definitive Smoking Gun of a failed administrative state. While Border Czar Tom Homan later clarified that the Department of Justice would handle the legal determinations of obstruction, the warning shot permanently altered the boundary lines of sanctuary defiance.
IV. THE HARRIS CONTROVERSY: THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF DECEIT UNMASKED
The crisis re-exposed the deep ideological fractures within the progressive elite. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, whose record on border security remains a cornerstone of the previous administration's decline, released a statement sharply condemning the deployment of the Guard. Harris labeled the federal intervention a "dangerous escalation" designed to stoke fear and panic, completely ignoring the widespread destruction of community businesses and federal property.
Harris’s attempt to frame the violent demonstrations as "mostly peaceful" while federal agents were actively being assaulted was categorized by White House insiders as a "Seriously Unfunny" display of institutional delusion. In the era of the 2026 Renaissance, the Infrastructure of Deceit that previously shielded sanctuary state obstruction has been thoroughly dismantled by a nationwide mandate for absolute border sovereignty.
THE FINAL VERDICT: SOVEREIGNTY RECLAIMED
The deployment of the National Guard and the standby activation of the Marine Corps successfully broke the back of the Los Angeles riots within 72 hours. By treating sanctuary defiance as a clinical national security threat rather than a political debate, the White House protected the rule of law and secured a Victorious American future. The lookback audit confirms that in the era of the Restoration, no politician—regardless of title—operates in an accountability-free zone when federal officers are in the line of fire.
THE STRIKE THAT SHOOK TEHRAN: INSIDE THE ESCALATING FEARS OF A WIDER MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

The skies above Tehran erupted into flames as reports of a devastating aerial assault sent shockwaves across the Middle East and triggered a wave of global alarm. What initially appeared to be another night of rising regional tension quickly transformed into a scenario that analysts say could mark one of the most dangerous escalations involving Iran in recent years.
Images and dramatic footage circulating online appeared to show massive explosions tearing through sections of the Iranian capital while military aircraft roared overhead. Thick black smoke climbed into the skyline as panic spread rapidly across social media platforms, fueling fears of a direct confrontation capable of reshaping the region overnight.
Although many of the circulating visuals and videos are linked to military simulation content and remain unverified, the reaction surrounding the reports highlights just how fragile the geopolitical climate around Iran has become.

A NIGHT OF FIRE AND CONFUSION OVER TEHRAN
According to rapidly spreading online claims, heavily armed attack aircraft allegedly launched coordinated strikes against strategic targets inside or near Tehran, igniting widespread speculation about a potential military escalation involving the United States and Iran.
Witnesses quoted across social platforms described hearing multiple explosions followed by air raid sirens and heavy anti-aircraft activity. Several videos appearing online showed fiery blasts lighting up urban areas while crowds scrambled through smoke-filled streets.

As the footage spread globally, confusion intensified over what was real, what was simulated, and what may have been intentionally amplified through online disinformation networks.
Military analysts quickly noted that some viral clips resembled highly realistic combat simulations often created using advanced military gaming platforms such as ARMA 3, a technology increasingly used online to produce cinematic war content capable of misleading audiences during real-world crises.
Still, the intensity of the reaction exposed deep anxieties surrounding the possibility of a direct military confrontation involving Tehran.

WHY THE A-10 WARTHOG REMAINS A SYMBOL OF FEAR
Central to many of the circulating narratives was the A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known globally as the “Warthog,” one of the most iconic close-air-support aircraft ever developed by the United States military.

Known for its devastating firepower, low-altitude attack capability, and massive GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon, the A-10 has long been associated with overwhelming battlefield destruction. Its unmistakable reputation has made it a powerful symbol in military media, simulations, and online war narratives.

In recent years, realistic military simulations featuring the aircraft have gained enormous popularity online, often blurring the line between fictional combat scenarios and actual geopolitical events.
The latest viral claims involving Tehran demonstrate how quickly highly cinematic military content can trigger international speculation, especially during periods of heightened tension involving Iran and Western powers.

THE REGION REMAINS ON EDGE
Even though no verified evidence currently confirms a direct American airstrike on Tehran, the rapid spread of such reports reflects the dangerous atmosphere dominating the Middle East today.
Iran remains deeply entangled in multiple regional flashpoints involving proxy conflicts, maritime tensions, missile development, cyber operations, and disputes with Israel and Western governments. Military analysts warn that even false reports or misinterpreted footage can increase instability by influencing public perception, political rhetoric, and military readiness.

In the hours following the viral claims, observers reported increased online activity connected to Iranian state media, regional military monitoring channels, and international intelligence communities attempting to assess the authenticity of the circulating footage.
Security experts caution that information warfare has become a major component of modern geopolitical conflict, where perception can often escalate tensions nearly as rapidly as actual military action.

INFORMATION WARFARE IS NOW PART OF THE BATTLEFIELD
The incident surrounding the viral Tehran strike narrative demonstrates a growing global challenge: distinguishing reality from sophisticated digital warfare content.
Modern simulation platforms now produce visuals so realistic that millions of viewers struggle to separate fictional military scenarios from actual combat footage. During periods of geopolitical instability, these videos can spread across social media at extraordinary speed, amplifying fear and confusion before official verification becomes available.

Experts warn that viral military misinformation can influence markets, trigger diplomatic reactions, and even impact military calculations in real time.
The Tehran strike narrative spread rapidly because it tapped directly into existing global fears surrounding Iran, regional instability, and the possibility of large-scale escalation in the Middle East.

GLOBAL MARKETS AND GOVERNMENTS WATCH CLOSELY
As the claims gained traction online, energy markets and geopolitical analysts closely monitored developments for signs of possible escalation.
Any genuine military confrontation involving Tehran could have enormous consequences for global oil supply routes, shipping corridors, and regional security alliances. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically critical maritime chokepoints, and instability involving Iran often causes immediate volatility in energy markets.

International governments responded cautiously, emphasizing the importance of verification before drawing conclusions about the circulating reports.
Still, intelligence agencies around the world continued reviewing available footage and monitoring regional communications channels amid concern that even fabricated narratives could inflame tensions.

A DIGITAL ERA WHERE FICTION CAN TRIGGER REAL FEAR
The viral reaction to the alleged strike on Tehran highlights how modern conflict now unfolds across both physical and digital battlefields simultaneously.
In previous decades, military escalation depended largely on confirmed troop movements, official announcements, or verified battlefield activity. Today, a single realistic video clip or dramatic headline can dominate global attention within minutes.
For audiences worldwide, distinguishing between verified reporting, simulation content, propaganda, and misinformation has become increasingly difficult.
The Tehran strike story serves as another reminder that in the age of hyper-realistic digital media, perception itself can become a geopolitical force.
THE WORLD REMAINS FIXED ON IRAN
Whether the circulating reports prove entirely fictional, partially accurate, or connected to broader regional tensions, one reality remains undeniable: the Middle East continues operating under extraordinary pressure.
Iran’s strategic importance, combined with ongoing proxy conflicts and fragile international relationships, means that even rumors of military escalation immediately attract global scrutiny.
For now, officials continue urging caution while analysts attempt to separate fact from speculation.
But the explosive reaction surrounding the Tehran strike narrative has already demonstrated how quickly fear, uncertainty, and geopolitical tension can spread in a world where information moves faster than verification.
And in today’s Middle East, sometimes the perception of war can become almost as dangerous as war itself.