A spokesman for former President Barack Obama issued on Tuesday a rare rebuke of President Trump, calling Mr. Trump’s pledge to use the Justice Department to go after his predecessor for treason “ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

Former Obama aides say they have to balance unnecessarily giving oxygen to unfounded Trump administration claims and allowing them to balloon unchecked.

The Supreme Court ruling that benefited Trump would also benefit any other former president prosecuted over their actions in office.