NEW YORK — Radio host Charlamagne tha God criticized former President Barack Obama on June 26, 2026, regarding remarks Obama made during a podcast interview. Obama had appeared on the program with former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

During the interview, Obama suggested that former President Donald Trump behaves differently in private conversation than he does publicly. Obama stated that Donald Trump is "still very fascinated" with him and added, "I obviously have a room in his head, a suite in his head." He further said, "I believe in conversation. So if this — whoever you were talking about — was in front of me, which has happened a couple times, he don't talk like that because he knows better."

Charlamagne tha God questioned Obama's comments by referencing an interaction between Obama and Trump. "So I just didn't understand what he meant unless he was talking about the kiki they had at the [Jimmy] Carter funeral," the host said. He noted that Obama and Trump had spoken, smiled, and laughed together at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral.

The host stated that Trump had been saying negative things about Obama and his wife. "Trump has been saying wild stuff about you, bro, been saying wild stuff about you and your wife, but you was just right there kikiing with him at the President Carter funeral," he said. The host added, "Don't neither one of y'all be having that energy in each other's face."

The radio host expressed confusion over the perceived disparity. "It sounds good on a podcast, OK? It goes viral. But when you really take a step back and look at it, don't none of y'all be having that same energy for each other when you see each other," he said. He also noted that this situation could be confusing for the public. "That's what be confusing us because we be like, 'Well, damn. I thought this was the big bad boogeyman telling us this guy's a threat to democracy, which I believe he is, but still.'" Charlamagne tha God had previously criticized Obama in March 2025 for appearing friendly toward Donald Trump at Carter's funeral.