Barack Obama Says Donald Trump Has a ‘Strange Obsession’ With Him: ‘I Have a Suite in His Head’

Barack Obama is weighing in on President Donald Trump’s alleged “obsession” with him.
“You gotta ask him what it is … the obsession,” Obama, 64, said when asked about Trump’s “fascination” with him on the Wednesday, June 24, episode of Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson’s “All the Smoke” podcast.
“I obviously have a room in his head,” the former president continued. “A suite in his head. … First of all, when I was president, the last thing I had to do was worry about what someone said or what my predecessor did. They’re gone. I’ve got work to do.”
Obama, who served as the 44th president from January 2009 to January 2017, pointed out that “if you’re doing the job right,” a U.S. leader would have “five, 10 things that are real hard” to do every day.
“And you have to be constantly focused,” he noted. “The idea that I would be worried about somebody who came before, and me trying to measure, ‘What’s he done today?’ … [It’s] a strange thing to me. It shows me somebody who’s not focused on the American people and the job they’re supposed to do.
Related: Barack Obama Seemingly Disses President Donald Trump: ‘The Bar Has Changed'
Stephen Colbert asked Barack Obama for advice about possibly running for president — and some shade appeared to be thrown at President Donald Trump. “I’m looking for a new gig soon, and a lot of people tell me I should run for president,” Colbert, 61, said during the Tuesday, May 6, episode of The Late […]Obama said he learned “pretty early” in his presidency to “screen out the noise in order for you to understand what’s in front of you and deal with it well.” He added that he’s “not even worried” about engaging with the comments that Trump, 80, has made about him.
Trump, who served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021 before returning to office as the 47th president last year, has thrown several jabs at Obama over the years. Earlier this month, he took to his Truth Social account to share an edited image depicting the Obama Presidential Center, a museum, library and education project in Chicago, as a trash can ahead of its opening on Juneteenth.
Obama appeared to make a subtle dig at Trump without naming the president during his speech at the June 18 opening ceremony, warning attendees about “ruthless” and “careless” leaders.
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Related: Michelle Obama Says Barack Obama Has ‘Got’ Her Through ‘Ups and Downs’
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have met with world leaders all over the globe, but they’re not afraid to get emotional when talking about their love for one another. The former president met Michelle LaVaughn Robinson in June 1989 while they were working at the same Chicago law firm. While Barack was “smitten,” Michelle was […]Barack’s wife, Michelle Obama, also made what many perceived to be a jab at Trump during her own speech at the opening ceremony, noting that her husband won the “peace prize.” (Barack won the Nobel Peace Prize award in 2009, while Trump lamented not winning the award last fall. He was subsequently gifted the medal by the actual winner, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, despite the award not being officially transferable.)
Michelle, 62, has frequently criticized Trump’s actions in office and his worldview. In November 2025, she expressed disappointment and confusion over Trump’s decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House, where she and other first ladies before her took office.
“It’s not about me. It’s about us and our traditions and what they stand for,” she said on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” podcast. “I think in my body, I felt confusion because I’m like, ‘Well, who are we? What do we value and who decides that?’ That’s the thing that’s going through my head a lot lately.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming

Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'