Trump Slams Former Biden Officials Over ‘Arctic Frost’ Investigation

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U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized several officials from the Biden administration, accusing them of authorizing a politically motivated investigation under a secret program known as Operation Arctic Frost.

Speaking at a rally, Trump claimed that top figures, including Merrick Garland, Lisa Monaco, Christopher Wray, and Jack Smith, were responsible for approving the 2022 operation. He alleged that the program was used to “spy” on Republican lawmakers and political groups.

“This was the biggest abuse of power since Watergate,” Trump said, calling the investigation an “illegal and rigged attempt” to weaken his allies ahead of the 2024 election.

Documents reported by multiple outlets show that Operation Arctic Frost was launched to collect phone metadata from individuals suspected of leaking classified information. The data involved call log records showing who contacted whom, but not the content of those conversations.

Legal experts say the program operated under existing federal surveillance laws, which permit limited data collection for national security or counterintelligence purposes. However, Republican lawmakers argue the investigation crossed ethical lines by targeting members of Congress and GOP political organizations.

Trump’s remarks have reignited debate over government surveillance powers and political accountability. Several Republican senators have called for a full congressional review of Arctic Frost, demanding that the FBI and Department of Justice release all related documents.

“This isn’t about politics, it’s about the abuse of authority,” one GOP lawmaker said, urging transparency in how intelligence tools are deployed domestically.

Officials who served under President Joe Biden have not directly commented on Trump’s latest remarks. However, previous statements from the Justice Department have defended the legality of the investigation, describing it as a standard counterintelligence procedure unrelated to partisan politics.

The renewed controversy comes as Trump continues to campaign for the 2026 election cycle, using the Arctic Frost case as a rallying point to criticize what he calls the “deep state’s political weaponization of justice.”