Former President Barack Obama sparked an online firestorm over the weekend after his X post discussing the “motive” of the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner shooter went viral.
“Although we don’t yet have the details about the motives behind last night’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it’s incumbent upon all us to reject the idea that violence has any place in our democracy,” Obama posted on X on Sunday evening, roughly 24 hours after President Trump and top officials were whisked out of the Washington Hilton Hotel when shots rang out from a man who stormed security during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
“It’s also a sobering reminder of the courage and sacrifice that the U.S. Secret Service Agents show every day. I’m grateful to them — and thankful that the agent who was shot is going to be okay.”
Obama’s post has been viewed nearly 52 million times and sparked outrage from conservatives, who pointed to a manifesto left by the shooter and other details of the attack that they say show the motive was to harm Trump and his Cabinet.
Former FBI Co-Deputy Director Dan Bongino simply replied, “Are you kidding?”
“There is a manifesto, and this is why you are the problem,” Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Ariz., posted on X.
“Oh come on,” reacted former Department of Homeland Security press secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “There is no ambiguity. It was a politically motivated attack driven by anti-Trump and anti-Christian bile. It’s wrong to downplay or obscure the obvious motive.”
Journalist Emma-Jo Morris posted on X, “It’s crazy how irrelevant Obama has become. Just reduced to posting bluesky-tier cope and meaningless cliches, ‘incumbent upon all’ etc.”
The Republican National Committee commented, “You are so SICK! Law enforcement officers confirmed this radicalized Leftist was targeting President Trump and his administration last night. Why are you lying?”
Popular independent journalist Nick Shirley also joined in, urging Obama to “call it out for what it is.”
“Wdym by ‘although’? It’s obvious what the motive was,” wrote Shirley.
Heritage Foundation media fellow Tim Young took a similar line, telling the former president, “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
“The details were out early this morning and it was clear he was a leftist trying to harm as many people in Trump’s cabinet as possible,” Young wrote.
“Agreed on condemning political violence, but you know what his motives were,” “Charlie Kirk Show” Executive Producer Andrew Kolvet posted on X.
“This is a lie—the gunman’s manifesto was published six hours ago,” political commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon posted on X. “But it’s also a confession—an admission that the motive is damning to President Obama’s side, hence the need to lie.”
Authorities have identified Cole Allen, a 31-year-old California resident, as the suspect who allegedly opened fire during the annual event attended by Trump and senior administration officials. Federal law enforcement officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that after Allen’s arrest, he said he intended to target Trump administration officials and had prepared a manifesto detailing his intent, while also sharing anti-Trump and anti-Christian rhetoric on social media.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro told reporters at a news conference after the shooting that Allen has been charged with two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. Pirro also said more charges are expected.
FLASHBACK: Obama tried to make Trump a punchline at 2011 dinner before rise stunned Washington
President Donald Trump will attend the White House Correspondents‘ Dinner Saturday, marking his first appearance at the annual event as commander in chief after skipping it throughout his first term.
The decision puts Trump back at a Washington ritual long tied to his fraught relationship with the press and political establishment.
His return also revives memories of the 2011 dinner, when President Barack Obama and comedian Seth Meyers mocked Trump from the dais in a moment that later became a widely discussed part of Trump’s political story.
“Donald Trump is here tonight,” Obama said at the 2011 dinner. “Now, I know he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald.
“And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter — like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?” he continued. Trump had publicly called for the release of Obama’s birth certificate, which the State of Hawaii did release that year.
The exchange underscored longstanding tensions between Trump and the Washington establishment that predated his entry into politics.
Speculation mounted that the jabs helped fuel Trump’s eventual decision to launch a presidential run, culminating in a stunning upset victory in 2016. Trump denied that Obama’s 2011 jokes prompted his candidacy, telling The Washington Post in 2016 that “there are many reasons I’m running, but that’s not one of them.”
“Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican, which is surprising since I just assumed he’d be running as a joke,” comedian Seth Meyers added when he took the podium that night.
Trump told Fox News’ “The Five” earlier this year he was treated “rudely and crudely” during the dinner, which he said influenced his decision not to attend while he was first in office.
“The press was so nasty, I just – so I didn’t do it,” said Trump.
He once again denied it was the 2011 dinner that sparked his interest in running for office.
“There is this theory: I was there while Barack Hussein Obama was speaking, and he was hitting me a little bit. Actually, it was very nice, and I was actually – I loved it. I really loved it,” said Trump.
Trump announced he would attend this year’s dinner as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration. The first lady will join him.
“The White House Correspondents Association very nicely asked the President to join them at their annual dinner this year as the honoree, which he gladly accepted,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle previously told Fox News Digital.
Trump did not attend during his first term due to a contentious relationship with the media at the height of coverage of the Russia investigation.
The banquet was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and revived in 2022 during President Biden’s administration. Trump also did not attend last year.
Trump unleashes on Obama’s ‘disaster’ Iran nuclear deal, says he was ‘honored’ to rip it apart
Trump blasted Obama’s ‘terrible’ Iran deal as an effort ‘to buy’ their respect, loyalty: ‘Didn’t work’
President Donald Trump revealed during Wednesday night’s Iran address that one of his top achievements against Iran, which he described as spanning across both his terms, was shredding former President Barack Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal.
Trump described the efforts in the Middle East as making “tremendous progress” and called Operation Epic Fury “necessary for the safety of America and the security of the free world.”
Meanwhile, he slammed Iran as “fanatical,” “murderous” and “thuggish,” arguing that letting them have a nuclear weapon “would be an intolerable threat.” While slamming Obama’s 2015 deal, the president cited the $400 million cash payment the former president’s administration flew to Iran in an effort to “buy their respect and loyalty.”
President Donald Trump addresses the nation to give an update on Iran Wednesday evening. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters)
“The most violent and thuggish regime on Earth would be free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield. I will never let that happen, and neither should any of our past presidents,” Trump said, leading into his comments about Obama’s “terrible” deal with Iran.
Former President Barack Obama’s 2015 Iran deal was slammed by President Trump during his address to the nation Wednesday night about the ongoing U.S. strikes against Iran. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Trump slammed Obama’s administration for using airplanes to transport that cash, around $400 million, in January 2016, which Trump said was done “to buy their respect and loyalty.”
“But it didn’t work,” Trump continued. “They laughed at our president and went on with their mission to have a nuclear bomb. His Iran deal would have led to a colossal arsenal of massive nuclear weapons for Iran, and they would have had them years ago, and they would have used them – would have been a different world. There would have been no Middle East and no Israel right now, in my opinion… Had I not terminated that terrible deal – I was so honored to do it. I was so proud to do it. It was so bad right from the beginning.”
Trump added that he is currently “correcting” the “mistakes” of former presidents, like Obama, noting he has been willing to do what they have not.
Trump gives a primetime address on Iran on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters)
Obama’s Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), exchanged sanctions relief to Iran for certain limits and international monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program, which the administration said would push Tehran further from a bomb, a take that has been contested by critics, including Trump.
Critics argued the effort actually empowered Iran, pointing in part to the Wall Street Journal reporting that the U.S. secretly airlifted $400 million in cash to Tehran that coincided with the release of four American prisoners.
Trump says Iran should never have a nuclear weapon, and he will ensure they do not make one, citing his recent efforts to shore up security in the Middle East. (iStock)
The Obama administration maintained that the payment was not part of the nuclear pact itself, but that it was the first installment of a separate settlement stemming from a decades-old pre-revolution arms dispute.
Trump Calls for Emergency Arrest of Former President Obama
Trump’s controversial remarks reignite the debate surrounding the 2016 U.S. election and various political allegations.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the arrest of former President Barack Obama, accusing his predecessor of plotting a coup during the 2016 presidential election. Mr. Trump made these remarks in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
In his message, Mr. Trump contended that Mr. Obama directed CIA agents to fabricate false intelligence related to the Russia investigation, also known as “Russiagate.”
“Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has just released HUNDREDS OF SHOCKING DOCUMENTS REGARDING RUSSIAGATE, proving that Barack Obama personally ordered CIA agents to create fake intelligence about President Trump and actively ‘worked with the enemy’ to sabotage and erode the American people’s faith in democracy and President Trump’s landslide victory in 2016. This was a coup attempt by Barack Hussein Obama and his gang… As Jesse Watters said: ‘Whatever happens to these people is not revenge… it is accountability. And it is time for these people to pay the price.’ ARREST OBAMA NOW!” Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social.
Mr. Trump described these alleged actions as a conspiracy intended to undermine the American people’s trust in democracy and in his victory in the 2016 election. The U.S. President emphasized that this was a coup attempt and demanded that Mr. Obama face criminal prosecution.
According to the content of the post, Mr. Trump cited information suggesting that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has released hundreds of documents related to Russiagate. Mr. Trump asserted that these documents prove Mr. Obama directly ordered the creation of false intelligence and “worked with the enemy” to weaken his administration.
The aforementioned statements were made in the context of the Trump administration intensifying its review of the conduct of political opponents during previous election cycles.
The call for Mr. Obama’s arrest appeared shortly after the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a seizure of documents related to the 2020 election at the Fulton County election office near Atlanta. This operation was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Ms. Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey.
Allegations regarding Russian interference have been raised numerous times in the West and across the media but have also been dismissed in many instances. The Russian side has denied these allegations, asserting that they are groundless arguments.
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