Donald Trump and Barack Obama share a history filled with tension and public clashes. At one point, Trump described Obama as a “very capable guy” and even praised him for handling a “mess” of a situation. But, in 2011, their relationship took a sharp turn.
The Birth of a Feud
In 2011, Trump publicly questioned Obama’s birthplace, pushing a “birther” conspiracy and demanding Obama’s birth certificate. Behind the scenes, he reportedly called Obama a “Manchurian candidate” and questioned how he gained entry to Ivy League universities. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, even claims Trump once hired an Obama lookalike just to mock him on video.
Despite the release of Obama’s birth certificate proving he was born in Hawaii, the friction didn’t stop.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner
At the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Obama seized the chance to respond. Turning to Trump, Obama joked, “Now he can get back to the issues that matter, like, did we fake the moon landing?… And where are Biggie and Tupac?”
With a stone-faced Trump in the audience, Obama kept going. He joked about Trump’s qualifications, referencing his TV show, The Apprentice, and even displayed a mock image of the White House rebranded as a Trump property.
Witnesses say that, in that room, Trump’s decision to run for president was cemented.
Trump’s Presidential Bid
On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his campaign, taking aim at Obama during his speeches. He called Obama “the founder of ISIS,” “the most ignorant president in our history,” and a “disaster.”
Though Trump won the presidency in 2016, his feelings towards Obama remained complicated. In public, he swung between calling Obama a friend and accusing him of actions without evidence, including wire-tapping his phone.
The 2024 Election Heats Up
With the 2024 election underway, Obama returned to the spotlight, supporting Kamala Harris at rallies. During one rally, Obama made a subtle jab at Trump’s crowd sizes with a tongue-in-cheek hand gesture that quickly went viral. Trump hit back, calling Obama “a jerk” and saying he looked “exhausted.”
A Grudge That Lingers
Trump’s former advisors say the roasting in 2011 still motivates him, with Roger Stone noting, “That night, he resolved to run for president.” Omarosa Manigault, Trump’s former Apprentice co-star, added, “The ultimate revenge is becoming the most powerful man in the universe.”
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