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Ben Rhodes, former senior advisor to President Barack Obama, came to his former boss's defense Saturday after President Donald Trump accused Obama of wiretapping Trump Tower in the later stages of last year's presidential campaign.
Quote tweeting Trump's original tweet, Rhodes fired back at Trump, "No President can order a wiretap."
"Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you," he added.
No President can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you. https://t.co/lEVscjkzSw— Ben Rhodes (@Ben Rhodes)1488637525.0
The tweet went viral quickly amassing more than 32,000 retweets and more than 53,000 "likes" by Saturday afternoon.
However, there was a large section of Twitter, particularly the conservative users, that simply weren't buying Rhodes comments — given Obama's history of wiretapping. Many were quick to point out the fact that Fox News correspondent James Rosen was infamously wiretapped in 2013 when the Justice Department was investigating government leaks. The Associated Press was also wiretapped in relation to the same investigation.
Given Obama's history, "he had no lawful power to do that" is not evidence that he didn't. https://t.co/3QcNXYWolt— Dan McLaughlin (@Dan McLaughlin)1488638256.0
I mean it's not like the Obama admin used subverted authority to go after political opponents before tapping Trump… https://t.co/qFSZHch4zM— Stephen L. Miller (@Stephen L. Miller)1488642955.0
@redsteeze democrats use the government as a weapon against their political enemies— SM (@SM)1488643893.0
Let's discuss Obama's WIRETAPPING the AP in 2013, shall we? https://t.co/Eu4Yyyp8lD— Boomer Rube ∂(Megan)/∂(t)🇺🇸 (@Boomer Rube ∂(Megan)/∂(t)🇺🇸)1488644244.0
@redsteeze @DLoesch it's not like the Obama regime tried to undermine the election in Israel 🤔— 𝕮𝖆𝖙𝖆𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 ⭐⭐⭐TextTrump88022 (@𝕮𝖆𝖙𝖆𝖜𝖍𝖆𝖙 ⭐⭐⭐TextTrump88022)1488646246.0
@redsteeze @AdamBaldwin I suggest we check in with Fox reporter @JamesRosenFNC who also had his phone tapped for political reasons— Charles R. Smith🔹 (@Charles R. Smith🔹)1488649215.0
@redsteeze Here's the proof. If McCarthy knew about it, you can bet Trump knows. -VJ https://t.co/KSPovDW4lM— RealVinnieJames (@RealVinnieJames)1488644617.0
