The Viral Post
President Donald Trump used Truth Social to reshare a post about former President Barack Obama. The post repeated an old claim: Obama had earned $40 million in “royalties” from the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) since 2010.
The reshared post read:
“#BREAKING: DOGE halts yearly payment of $2.5 million to Barack Obama for ‘royalties linked to Obamacare.’”
Trump captioned it simply: “WOW!”
Background on Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, aimed to reform U.S. healthcare and expand insurance access. It also contributed to the recent government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—after Democrats fought to preserve subsidies for 24 million Americans.
Trump has long criticized Obamacare. In early November, he tweeted:
“I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies… BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE so they can purchase their own, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE—and have money left over.”
Despite his harsh stance, he later told reporters that extending Obamacare subsidies might be necessary temporarily to advance other policy goals, calling the ACA “a disaster.”
The False “Royalties” Claim
Trump’s reshared claim stated Obama received $2.5 million per year from Obamacare. However, the post included no credible sources. The story traces back to the Dunning-Kruger Times, a satirical site within the “America’s Last Line of Defense” network, which openly labels its content as fictional:
“If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined.”
The “Obamacare royalties” rumor had circulated earlier this year and has been repeatedly debunked.
Christopher Blair, creator of the network, told Reuters:
“The ‘Obamacare Royalties’ storyline is one ALLOD has used successfully for years. The operation thrives on confirmation bias.”
CNN anchor Jake Tapper also dismissed the claim:
“No, President Obama is not receiving royalties for Obamacare, as President Trump suggested earlier today. It’s not true. There’s no evidence. It’s absurd. The rumor started on a parody site called the Dunning-Kruger Times… everything on that website is fiction.”
Trump’s Response
When asked why Trump shared the claim, a White House spokesperson highlighted Obama’s post-presidential wealth, including his Martha’s Vineyard property. They contrasted this with Trump, stating:
“President Trump is the only modern president who actually lost money while in office because he consistently put everyday Americans first—not special interests.”
Bottom Line
The claim that Obama earned millions from Obamacare royalties is false. It originated on a satirical website and has no factual basis. Trump’s resharing reignited the rumor, but experts and fact-checkers confirm it is entirely fabricated.
