AnnaMaria
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump used his Truth Social account to reshare a post about former President Barack Obama. The post repeated a long-running claim alleging that Obama had earned 40 million dollars in “royalties” since the Affordable Care Act was introduced in 2010.
The message Trump boosted read:
“DOGE halts yearly payment of 2.5 million dollars to Barack Obama for ‘royalties linked to Obamacare.’”
Trump added a simple reaction: “WOW!”
Why The Rumor Went Viral Again
The Affordable Care Act was created to expand access to healthcare and became a key factor in the longest U.S. government shutdown, as lawmakers fought to preserve subsidies for millions of Americans. Trump has been a persistent critic of the ACA and has repeatedly pushed for major changes to the system.
Earlier in November he posted that funds going to insurance companies should be redirected directly to citizens so they could purchase their own health coverage. He later acknowledged that maintaining some ACA subsidies temporarily might be necessary to advance broader policy goals.
The Claim Has No Evidence Behind It
The rumor that Obama receives 2.5 million dollars per year from Obamacare resurfaced after Trump reshared it on November 30. The claim did not include any evidence, and there is a clear reason for that. The story originated from the Dunning Kruger Times, a satirical website that openly publishes fictional content. Its homepage states that everything on the site is made up.
The “Obamacare royalties” narrative has circulated for years and has been repeatedly debunked by fact checkers and major news outlets.
Fact Checkers Respond
Christopher Blair, the creator behind the satirical network that includes the Dunning Kruger Times, told Reuters that the storyline has been used successfully for years because it feeds into confirmation bias.
CNN’s Jake Tapper also addressed Trump’s repost, confirming that there is no evidence Obama receives royalties from the ACA. He noted that the entire rumor originated from a parody website known for fictional stories.
When asked why Trump shared the claim, a White House spokesperson pointed out that Obama became wealthy after leaving office and purchasing a home on Martha’s Vineyard. They contrasted this with Trump, stating that he lost money while serving as president because he prioritised the interests of everyday Americans.
Sometimes the loudest stories online are the ones that fall apart fastest once the facts come into focus, and this one was no exception as you keep scrolling.
