Overview
- On Nov. 9, Trump reposted a screenshot claiming DOGE halted $2.5 million in yearly 'royalties' to Barack Obama, adding 'WOW!' on Truth Social.
- The storyline originated with the Dunning-Kruger Times and the America’s Last Line of Defense network, which prominently state their content is fictional.
- PolitiFact, Snopes, Forbes and others debunked the claim, and AFP reported no U.S. Patent and Trademark Office record for an 'Obamacare' trademark.
- Legal experts explained that a federal program’s name would not produce personal royalties and there is no evidence of any such payments to Obama.
- News outlets reported the White House did not say whether Trump knew the post was satire, as media figures underscored the risks of sharing fabricated content.