Trump uses Twitter to accuse Obama of blocking smooth transition of power
US President-elect Donald Trump has accused Barack Obama of creating “inflammatory” roadblocks during the transition of power in America.
Mr Trump also accused the outgoing administration of treating Israel with “total disdain”, further straining the veneer of civility between the incoming and outgoing leaders.
Although Mr Trump did not detail his complaints in a series of broadsides on Twitter, he made it clear Mr Obama’s recent claim he would have won the election had he been running did not sit well with the President-elect.
Mr Trump’s largely respectful tone about the current president since the election evaporated in his latest tweets.
He tweeted: “Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.
“Thought it was going to be a smooth transition – NOT!”
Mr Trump also took direct issue with the Obama administration’s decision to let a UN Security Council resolution critical of Israel pass.
“We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect,” he said in a two-part tweet.
“They used to have a great friend in the US, but ... not any more. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (UN)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!”
Mr Trump and his team have until now been largely complimentary of the way Mr Obama and his team have handled the transition.
The US presidentelect’s complaints about the treatment of Israel came a few hours before John Kerry was due to make his final speech about peace in the Middle East as secretary of state.
A senior member of the Israeli government slated Mr Kerry’s planned Middle East policy speech as a “pathetic move”, heightening tensions between the two close allies as Mr Obama prepares to leave office.
The comments by Israeli public security minister Gilad Erdan are the latest salvo in a toxic exchange following America’s refusal to veto a UN Security Council resolution last week that called Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem a violation of international law.