( CNN ) George Zimmerman says he bears a grudge against President Obama , accusing him of inflaming racial tensions around the Trayvon Martin case . Zimmerman , who was acquitted of murder in 2013 over Martin 's death , made the allegations against Obama in a video posted on his lawyers ' website . The February 2012 killing of Martin , an unarmed black teenager , by Zimmerman , a Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer , stirred fierce debate about race and the justice system . Zimmerman , who is now 31 , said he shot Martin in self-defense during a confrontation in Sanford , Florida . But critics allege the death was spurred by racial profiling . In the new video , Zimmerman claims it was Obama who stoked racial tensions surrounding the case . He cites the President 's remarks in March 2012 , when the case was still being investigated , in which Obama said , `` If I had a son , he would look like Trayvon . '' `` To me , that was clearly a dereliction of duty , pitting Americans against each other solely based on race , '' Zimmerman says in the conversation with his lawyer Howard Iken , who does not appear on camera . Zimmerman notes that Obama 's press secretary at the time , Jay Carney , had said previously that the White House would not wade into the case , calling it `` a local law-enforcement matter . '' Asked if he felt there was one government agency or official who brought the most unfairness to his situation , Zimmerman is quick to respond . `` By far , the President of the United States , Barack Hussein Obama , '' he says . Zimmerman 's comments are the first since the U.S. Justice Department announced last month that it would n't bring any civil rights charges against him . He says that he feels that `` the Department of Justice process worked , '' but also that it should have investigated whether his civil rights were violated . `` They had various numerous examples of bounties place on my head , credible threats placed against myself and my family , '' he says , adding that `` the President and the Attorney General and the federal government declined to do anything about it . '' Zimmerman says he has a clear conscience over Martin 's death . `` Only in a true life or death scenario can you have mental clearness to know that you can not feel guilty for surviving , '' he says .
Zimmerman criticizes Obama 's comments during the Trayvon Martin case . `` To me , that was clearly a dereliction of duty , '' he says .