Trump claims Obama wiretapped him during campaign; Obama refutes itWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump accused predecessor Barack Obama on Saturday of wiretapping him during the late stages of the 2016 election campaign, but offered no evidence for an allegation which an Obama spokesman said was “simply false”. Trump made the accusation in a series of early morning tweets just weeks into his administration and amid rising scrutiny of his campaign’s ties to Russia. “How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!,” Trump wrote in one tweet. “I’d bet a good lawyer could make a great case out of the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October, just prior to Election!” The remarkable tussle between the current and former presidents just 45 days since the handover of power is the latest twist in a controversy over ties between Trump associates and Russia that has dogged the early days of his presidency. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last year that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the election campaign as part of an effort to tilt the vote in Trump’s favor. The Kremlin has denied the allegations. Trump has accused officials in Obama’s administration of trying to discredit him with questions about Russia contacts. Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis said it had been a “cardinal rule” of the Obama administration that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice. “Neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any U.S. citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false,” Lewis said in a statement. The statement did not address the possibility that a wiretap of the Trump campaign could have been ordered by Justice Department officials. Trump said the alleged wiretapping took place in his Trump Tower office and apartment building in New York, but there was “nothing found.” The White House did not respond to a request to elaborate on Trump’s accusations. Trump was spending the weekend at his Florida seaside resort, Mar-a-Lago. He was scheduled to meet with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly before a dinner with officials also including adviser Steve Bannon and White House Counsel Don McGahn, the White House said. Amid a political storm, Sessions on Thursday announced he would stay out of any probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election after it emerged he met last year with Russia’s ambassador, although he maintained he did nothing wrong by failing to disclose the meeting. A Trump spokeswoman said the president spent part of Saturday “having meetings, making phone calls and hitting balls” at his golf course in West Palm Beach. His supporters, meanwhile, staged small rallies in at least 28 of the country’s 50 states, most of which passed off peacefully. But there were clashes in the famously left-leaning city of Berkeley, California, where protesters from both sides hit each other over the head with wooden sticks. Trump’s tweets caught his aides by surprise, with one saying it was unclear what the president was referring to. Members of Congress said Trump’s accusations require investigation or explanation. Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican, described the allegations as serious and said the public deserved more information. He said in a statement it was possible that Trump had been illegally tapped, but, if so, the president should explain what sort of tap it was and how he knew about it. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called Trump’s assertion a “spectacularly reckless allegation”. “If there is something bad or sick going on, it is the willingness of the nation’s chief executive to make the most outlandish and destructive claims without providing a scintilla of evidence to support them,” Schiff said in a statement. Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes strongly denied Trump’s allegations: “No president can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you,” Rhodes wrote on Twitter. Trump’s administration has come under pressure from Federal Bureau of Investigation and congressional investigations into contacts between some members of his campaign team and Russian officials during his campaign.  Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he had no knowledge of any wiretapping but was “very worried” about the suggestion Obama had acted illegally and would also be concerned “if in fact the Obama administration was able to obtain a warrant lawfully about Trump campaign activity.” Several other Republicans again urged an investigation into a series of intelligence-related leaks. Obama imposed sanctions on Russia and ordered Russian diplomats to leave the United States in December over the country’s involvement in hacking political parties in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. Under U.S. law, a federal court would have to have found probable cause that the target of the surveillance is an “agent of a foreign power” in order to approve a warrant authorizing electronic surveillance of Trump Tower. Several conservative news outlets and commentators have made allegations in recent days about Trump being wiretapped during the campaign, without offering any evidence. Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned in February after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office.   Flynn had promised Vice President Mike Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications, described by U.S. officials, showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador.    politicsNews
trump claims obama wiretapped campaign obama refutes washington reuters president donald trump accused predecessor barack obama saturday wiretapping late stages election campaign offered evidence allegation obama spokesman said simply false trump made accusation series early morning tweets weeks administration amid rising scrutiny campaign ties russia how low president obama gone app phones sacred election process this bad sick guy trump wrote one tweet i bet good lawyer could make great case fact president obama tapping phones october prior election the remarkable muscle current former presidents days since handover power latest twist controversy ties trump associates russia dogged early days presidency intelligence agencies concluded last year russia hacked leaked democratic emails election campaign part effort tilt vote trump favor the kremlin denied allegations trump accused officials obama administration trying discredit questions russia contacts obama spokesman kevin lewis said cardinal rule obama administration white house official ever interfered independent investigation led department justice neither president obama white house official ever ordered surveillance citizen any suggestion otherwise simply false lewis said statement the statement address possibility wiretap trump campaign could ordered justice department officials trump said alleged wiretapping took place trump tower office apartment building new york nothing the white house respond request elaborate trump accusations trump spending weekend florida seaside resort he scheduled meet attorney general jeff sessions homeland security secretary john kelly dinner officials also including adviser steve cannon white house counsel don meghan white house said amid political storm sessions thursday announced would stay probe alleged russian meddling presidential election emerged met last year russia ambassador although maintained nothing wrong failing disclose meeting a trump spokeswoman said president spent part saturday meetings making phone calls hitting balls golf course west palm beach his supporters meanwhile staged small rallies least country states passed peacefully but clashes famously city berkeley california protesters sides hit head wooden sticks trump tweets caught aides surprise one saying unclear president referring members congress said trump accusations require investigation explanation senator ben masse republican described allegations serious said public deserved information he said statement possible trump illegally tapped president explain sort tap knew representative adam chief top democrat house intelligence committee called trump assertion spectacularly reckless allegation if something bad sick going willingness nation chief executive make outlandish destructive claims without providing scintilla evidence support chief said statement former obama adviser ben rhodes strongly denied trump allegations no president order wiretap those restrictions put place protect citizens people like rhodes wrote twitter trump administration come pressure federal bureau investigation congressional investigations contacts members campaign team russian officials campaign republican senator lindsay graham said knowledge wiretapping worried suggestion obama acted illegally would also concerned fact obama administration able obtain warrant lawfully trump campaign several republicans urged investigation series leaks obama imposed sanctions russia ordered russian diplomats leave united states december country involvement hacking political parties presidential election under law federal court would found probable cause target surveillance agent foreign power order approve warrant authorizing electronic surveillance trump tower several conservative news outlets commentators made allegations recent days trump wiretapped campaign without offering evidence trump first national security adviser michael flynn resigned february revelations discussed sanctions russia russian ambassador united states trump took office flynn promised vice president mike pence discussed sanctions russian transcripts intercepted communications described officials showed subject come conversations russian ambassador politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump claims Obama wiretapped him during campaign; Obama refutes itWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump accused predecessor Barack Obama on Saturday of wiretapping him during the late stages of the 2016 election campaign, but offered no evidence for an allegation which an Obama spokesman said was “simply false”. Trump made the accusation in a series of early morning tweets just weeks into his administration and amid rising scrutiny of his campaign’s ties to Russia. “How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!,” Trump wrote in one tweet. “I’d bet a good lawyer could make a great case out of the fact that President Obama was tapping my phones in October, just prior to Election!” The remarkable tussle between the current and former presidents just 45 days since the handover of power is the latest twist in a controversy over ties between Trump associates and Russia that has dogged the early days of his presidency. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded last year that Russia hacked and leaked Democratic emails during the election campaign as part of an effort to tilt the vote in Trump’s favor. The Kremlin has denied the allegations. Trump has accused officials in Obama’s administration of trying to discredit him with questions about Russia contacts. Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis said it had been a “cardinal rule” of the Obama administration that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice. “Neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any U.S. citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false,” Lewis said in a statement. The statement did not address the possibility that a wiretap of the Trump campaign could have been ordered by Justice Department officials. Trump said the alleged wiretapping took place in his Trump Tower office and apartment building in New York, but there was “nothing found.” The White House did not respond to a request to elaborate on Trump’s accusations. Trump was spending the weekend at his Florida seaside resort, Mar-a-Lago. He was scheduled to meet with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly before a dinner with officials also including adviser Steve Bannon and White House Counsel Don McGahn, the White House said. Amid a political storm, Sessions on Thursday announced he would stay out of any probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election after it emerged he met last year with Russia’s ambassador, although he maintained he did nothing wrong by failing to disclose the meeting. A Trump spokeswoman said the president spent part of Saturday “having meetings, making phone calls and hitting balls” at his golf course in West Palm Beach. His supporters, meanwhile, staged small rallies in at least 28 of the country’s 50 states, most of which passed off peacefully. But there were clashes in the famously left-leaning city of Berkeley, California, where protesters from both sides hit each other over the head with wooden sticks. Trump’s tweets caught his aides by surprise, with one saying it was unclear what the president was referring to. Members of Congress said Trump’s accusations require investigation or explanation. Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican, described the allegations as serious and said the public deserved more information. He said in a statement it was possible that Trump had been illegally tapped, but, if so, the president should explain what sort of tap it was and how he knew about it. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called Trump’s assertion a “spectacularly reckless allegation”. “If there is something bad or sick going on, it is the willingness of the nation’s chief executive to make the most outlandish and destructive claims without providing a scintilla of evidence to support them,” Schiff said in a statement. Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes strongly denied Trump’s allegations: “No president can order a wiretap. Those restrictions were put in place to protect citizens from people like you,” Rhodes wrote on Twitter. Trump’s administration has come under pressure from Federal Bureau of Investigation and congressional investigations into contacts between some members of his campaign team and Russian officials during his campaign.  Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he had no knowledge of any wiretapping but was “very worried” about the suggestion Obama had acted illegally and would also be concerned “if in fact the Obama administration was able to obtain a warrant lawfully about Trump campaign activity.” Several other Republicans again urged an investigation into a series of intelligence-related leaks. Obama imposed sanctions on Russia and ordered Russian diplomats to leave the United States in December over the country’s involvement in hacking political parties in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. Under U.S. law, a federal court would have to have found probable cause that the target of the surveillance is an “agent of a foreign power” in order to approve a warrant authorizing electronic surveillance of Trump Tower. Several conservative news outlets and commentators have made allegations in recent days about Trump being wiretapped during the campaign, without offering any evidence. Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, resigned in February after revelations that he had discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the United States before Trump took office.   Flynn had promised Vice President Mike Pence he had not discussed U.S. sanctions with the Russians, but transcripts of intercepted communications, described by U.S. officials, showed that the subject had come up in conversations between him and the Russian ambassador.    politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump claims obama wiretapped campaign obama refutes washington reuters president donald trump accused predecessor barack obama saturday wiretapping late stages election campaign offered evidence allegation obama spokesman said simply false trump made accusation series early morning tweets weeks administration amid rising scrutiny campaign ties russia how low president obama gone app phones sacred election process this bad sick guy trump wrote one tweet i bet good lawyer could make great case fact president obama tapping phones october prior election the remarkable muscle current former presidents days since handover power latest twist controversy ties trump associates russia dogged early days presidency intelligence agencies concluded last year russia hacked leaked democratic emails election campaign part effort tilt vote trump favor the kremlin denied allegations trump accused officials obama administration trying discredit questions russia contacts obama spokesman kevin lewis said cardinal rule obama administration white house official ever interfered independent investigation led department justice neither president obama white house official ever ordered surveillance citizen any suggestion otherwise simply false lewis said statement the statement address possibility wiretap trump campaign could ordered justice department officials trump said alleged wiretapping took place trump tower office apartment building new york nothing the white house respond request elaborate trump accusations trump spending weekend florida seaside resort he scheduled meet attorney general jeff sessions homeland security secretary john kelly dinner officials also including adviser steve cannon white house counsel don meghan white house said amid political storm sessions thursday announced would stay probe alleged russian meddling presidential election emerged met last year russia ambassador although maintained nothing wrong failing disclose meeting a trump spokeswoman said president spent part saturday meetings making phone calls hitting balls golf course west palm beach his supporters meanwhile staged small rallies least country states passed peacefully but clashes famously city berkeley california protesters sides hit head wooden sticks trump tweets caught aides surprise one saying unclear president referring members congress said trump accusations require investigation explanation senator ben masse republican described allegations serious said public deserved information he said statement possible trump illegally tapped president explain sort tap knew representative adam chief top democrat house intelligence committee called trump assertion spectacularly reckless allegation if something bad sick going willingness nation chief executive make outlandish destructive claims without providing scintilla evidence support chief said statement former obama adviser ben rhodes strongly denied trump allegations no president order wiretap those restrictions put place protect citizens people like rhodes wrote twitter trump administration come pressure federal bureau investigation congressional investigations contacts members campaign team russian officials campaign republican senator lindsay graham said knowledge wiretapping worried suggestion obama acted illegally would also concerned fact obama administration able obtain warrant lawfully trump campaign several republicans urged investigation series leaks obama imposed sanctions russia ordered russian diplomats leave united states december country involvement hacking political parties presidential election under law federal court would found probable cause target surveillance agent foreign power order approve warrant authorizing electronic surveillance trump tower several conservative news outlets commentators made allegations recent days trump wiretapped campaign without offering evidence trump first national security adviser michael flynn resigned february revelations discussed sanctions russia russian ambassador united states trump took office flynn promised vice president mike pence discussed sanctions russian transcripts intercepted communications described officials showed subject come conversations russian ambassador politicsnews