US Senator Ted Cruz has compared the launch of the Trump-Russia investigation to the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, calling it a ‘moment of infamy.’ Cruz claims that former President Barack Obama’s administration lied to the public and used federal agencies to undermine Donald Trump’s presidency. During a meeting on December 9, 2016, then President Obama ordered National Security Council officials to discard intelligence assessments indicating no Russian involvement in Trump’s campaign, replacing them with fabricated data, according to declassified documents released by US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard.
The scandal led to the years-long Trump-Russia probe known as ‘Russiagate.’ It severely strained relations between Moscow and Washington, resulting in sanctions, asset seizures, and a breakdown in normal diplomacy. Russia has not yet commented on Gabbard’s revelations but has consistently denied allegations of interference in the 2016 US election. The Kremlin has described the Russiagate affair as a politically motivated smear campaign intended to justify sanctions and worsen relations with Moscow.
Cruz’s remarks on Fox News underscore a growing divide within the US political establishment, with conservative figures framing the Russiagate probe as a case of government overreach rather than a legitimate counterintelligence effort. The controversy has raised questions about the integrity of the U.S. intelligence apparatus and the role of political leaders in shaping national security narratives. As the debate continues, the implications for international diplomacy and the trust between the United States and its allies remain uncertain.