Liberals are very upset.
Celebrity radio host Charlamagne tha God stirred controversy when he accused former President Barack Obama of “kissing the ring” after a video surfaced showing Obama and President Trump sharing a light-hearted moment at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. The clip, which quickly went viral, depicted the two men sitting next to each other, laughing together as Trump appeared to say something that made Obama chuckle. The interaction stood in stark contrast to the harsh rhetoric both men had directed at each other in the past.
On his popular radio show, The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne didn’t hold back. “You spent years calling Trump a threat to democracy and a fascist, and now you’re all buddy-buddy with him?” he said. “To me, that’s just terrible political optics.”
Charlamagne was referring to the years of hostility between the two. Trump had been a prominent figure in pushing the “birther” conspiracy theory, claiming Obama wasn’t born in the United States. On the other hand, Obama had openly criticized Trump, calling him dangerous and labeling him a “fascist” during his campaign efforts for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The moment between the two former leaders caught the attention of many, especially given the long history of animosity between them. “It appeared as though Barack Obama was kissing the ring,” Charlamagne remarked. “He is the last top leader of the Democrats, and he sits there laughing with Trump like it’s ok.”
Some of Charlamagne’s co-hosts defended the moment, suggesting that the two could have simply been having a private conversation about something trivial. “They could have been talking about anything,” said DJ Envy, one of Charlamagne’s co-hosts. “Maybe Trump made a joke. You never know.”
However, Trump himself later commented on the interaction, telling Fox News that he and Obama “probably” like each other. “It did look very friendly, I must say,” Trump said, reflecting on the friendly tone of their exchange.
While the details of their conversation remain private, the video’s stark contrast to the venomous words both men have used about each other in the past has led many to question the political motivations behind their public display of camaraderie. To many Republicans, this moment underscores the idea that political leaders often prioritize personal relationships over ideological consistency—something that may not sit well with the base. It raises the question of whether Obama’s post-presidential demeanor suggests a return to the old political elite’s ways of compromise and deal-making, something many conservatives see as part of the problem in Washington.
