Former President Barack Obama has addressed Donald Trump's apparent 'obsession' with him, stating that he occupies a 'suite in his head.' Speaking on the 'All the Smoke' podcast with former NBA player Matt Barnes, Obama responded to a question about whether he ever wants to curse Trump out.
'The thing about it is… the obsession,' Obama replied. 'I obviously have a room in his head, a suite in his head.'
Trump's Frequent References to Obama
Trump often brings up Obama. Days before the podcast, when confronted about ongoing issues with his reflecting pool, Trump blamed Obama, who left office nearly a decade ago. He told a reporter: 'Barack Hussein Obama, have you ever heard of him?'
During the podcast, Obama also said his last worry during his two terms was about his predecessor, George W. Bush. 'They're gone. I've got work to do. The idea that I'd be worrying about somebody who came before and me trying to measure like, 'what's he done today?' Constantly worrying about that is a strange thing to me,' Obama added. 'It shows me somebody who is not focused on the American people and the job they're supposed to do.'
Past Incidents of Trump's Obsession
In recent years, Trump has brought up Obama on numerous occasions, often to disparage him or to brag about his own accomplishments while diminishing Obama's. In 2023, Trump claimed that former White House physician Ronny Jackson said he was healthier than Obama. 'He was my doctor. He was Obama's doctor, too, by the way,' Trump said. 'I said, 'Who's healthier?' He said, 'Sir, there's no contest.' I won't tell you the answer, but you know the answer, OK? It was me.'
Earlier in 2026, Trump posted a controversial video on Truth Social showing both Barack and Michelle Obama's faces on ape bodies. The minute-long video, which has since been deleted, was about rigged voting machines and featured a two-second shot of the former president and first lady as apes dancing in a jungle with 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' playing. When a journalist criticized Trump for not knowing what was posted under his name, Trump lashed out: 'I know a hell of a lot better than you do. You don't know what's going on. I know what's going on.'
