Donald Trump blames Barack Obama for administration leaks, protests

Washington: US President Donald Trump has accused his predecessor Barack Obama of being responsible for the leaks within his administration and the sizable, angry town-hall crowds Republicans have faced across the country.

Trump was asked in an interview on Fox News` "Fox and Friends" if he believed Obama was responsible for the town-hall protests against Republicans this month. 

"It turns out his organisation seems to do a lot of these organising to some of the protests that these Republicans are seeing around the country against you. Do you believe President Obama is behind it and if he is, is that a violation of the so-called unsaid Presidents` code?" Trump was asked.

"No, I think he is behind it. I also think it is politics, that`s the way it is," Trump said in the interview, a clip of which was released Monday night.

Trump then discussed the leaks that have disrupted his first month in office.

"You never know what`s exactly happening behind the scenes. You know, you`re probably right or possibly right, but you never know," Trump said in another preview clip of the interview. 

"No, I think that President Obama is behind it because his people are certainly behind it. And some of the leaks possibly come from that group, which are really serious because they are very bad in terms of national security. But I also understand that is politics. In terms of him being behind things, that`s politics. And it will probably continue."

Trump, however, did not offer any evidence for his claim. 

Earlier this month, Trump told Fox News that reports of his calls with the leaders of Mexico and Australia were caused by leaks from "Obama people".

Trump`s administration has been beset by leaks within his administration to the media, and he has continually railed against those doing the leaks and against the media since taking office. He has said the leaks are damaging to national security.