Obama calls Trump’s obsession with him a distraction

Former President Barack Obama has publicly addressed what he described as President Donald Trump's "obsession" with him, suggesting Trump is distracted from his duties. Obama made the remarks during an interview on the "All The Smoke" podcast with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, which was released on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

When a host noted that Trump remains "very fascinated" with Obama and his family nearly a decade after Obama left office, Obama responded directly. "Look, you've got to ask him what it is," Obama said. "The obsession. I obviously have a room in his head, a suite in his head."

Obama contrasted Trump's focus with his own experience in the White House, stating that dwelling on a predecessor was not a priority. "When I was president, the last thing I had time to do was worry about what somebody said or what my predecessor did," he said. "They're gone. I've got work to do." He added that constantly worrying about a predecessor "is a strange thing to me" and "shows me somebody who is not focused on the American people and the job they're supposed to do."

The former president also observed that Trump's behavior differs in person from his online...