A spokesman for former President Barack Obama issued on Tuesday a rare rebuke of President Trump, calling Mr. Trump’s pledge to use the Justice Department to go after his predecessor for treason “ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

Obama's debt to Trump in the current president's mind? That the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that presidents have immunity for official acts.

Hours after Trump falsely accused Obama of trying to rig the 2016 election, the ex-president’s office said it had no choice but to publicly refute the claim.