Recently, President Donald Trump stirred the pot by sharing a post about former President Barack Obama on his Truth Social account.
The post reiterated an old claim that Obama had supposedly pocketed $40 million in “royalties” since the creation of the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare, which was enacted in 2010.
This highlighted message that Trump shared stated:
“#BREAKING: DOGE halts yearly payment of $2.5 million to Barack Obama for ‘royalties linked to Obamacare.’”
Alongside this, Trump simply remarked with a “WOW!”
The Affordable Care Act was introduced with the aim to overhaul the American healthcare system, making insurance more accessible to a wider population. It played a critical role in a significant government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, centered around preserving healthcare assistance for 24 million citizens before it was due to expire.
Trump’s Opposition to Obamacare
Trump has been a long-standing opponent of Obamacare. Earlier this month, he expressed:
“I am proposing to Senate Republicans that the innumerable funds currently being allocated to inefficient insurance companies for sustaining the failing Obamacare be redistributed directly to the people. This way, they can secure superior healthcare options themselves, with some money to spare.”
Despite this criticism, Trump acknowledged that maintaining Obamacare subsidies might be crucial temporarily for achieving larger policy objectives, even labeling the ACA as a “disaster.”
The Resurging Rumor
The narrative that Obama was amassing $2.5 million in annual payments from Obamacare made a comeback after Trump’s recent post. However, this assertation came without any credible sources, and perhaps not surprisingly.
In truth, this claim seems to have emerged from the Dunning-Kruger Times, a satirical outlet forming part of the “America’s Last Line of Defense” network—a group renowned for parody and intentionally falsified stories. The site openly admits that its content is entirely fictional.
On its homepage, the following message is displayed:
“If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined.”
This amusing and fictional “Obamacare royalties” rumor first appeared earlier this year and has been thoroughly debunked numerous times.
Setting the Record Straight
Christopher Blair, the mastermind behind the America’s Last Line of Defense network, mentioned to Reuters:
“The ‘Obamacare Royalties’ concept is a narrative that ALLOD has utilized effectively for years. The operation thrives on the biases people already hold.”
CNN anchor Jake Tapper was quick to reject Trump’s claims, appearing in a video to clarify:
“No, President Obama is not receiving royalties for Obamacare, contrary to what President Trump suggested earlier today. There’s no truth to it. It’s a baseless claim. This false assertion started on the parody site called the Dunning-Kruger Times… and everything on that site is fiction.”
The White House was questioned on why Trump propagated such an unsubstantiated claim, to which a spokesperson responded by highlighting how Obama’s wealth grew after his presidency, such as purchasing a luxury home on Martha’s Vineyard. They contrasted this with Trump, stating:
“President Trump is the only modern president who actually saw a decrease in his wealth during his term because he consistently prioritized everyday Americans over special interests.”
Despite the humorous and fictional origins of these “royalty” claims, they continue to circulate and gain attention. As always, it’s essential to critically evaluate sources and seek out verified information before accepting such stories as fact. The Affordable Care Act remains a cornerstone topic in political discussions, sparking various debates and narratives from different political perspectives. However, claims such as the $40 million royalties do not hold up under scrutiny.
