The persistent narrative of Donald Trump’s fixation on Barack Obama has once again resurfaced, particularly as the former president faces escalating legal challenges and scrutiny.

This enduring obsession recently manifested in Trump’s attempts to link his metastasizing scandals to Obama, including extraordinary claims that Obama had personally authored federal files related to Jeffrey Epstein and orchestrated efforts to “rig” the 2016 election.

Donald Trump’s political career has been notably marked by this long-standing preoccupation, dating back to the racially charged “birther” conspiracy theory that baselessly questioned Obama’s American citizenship and legitimacy as president.

Beyond the birther claims, Trump’s presidency saw numerous instances where he falsely accused Obama, ranging from fabricating policies like the separation of migrant families at the border to outlandish lies about Obama landing shady book deals or even ruining White House infrastructure.

A critical question arising from the recent Epstein scandal, and clear evidence of a potential Trump cover-up, is whether this consistent strategy of blaming Barack Obama still resonates effectively with his dedicated base of supporters.

Conservative media and various MAGA allies, such as Senator Markwayne Mullin, have predictably attempted to redirect blame, despite the fact that the controversial Epstein plea deal occurred in 2008 during the Bush administration and was approved by a Bush-appointed U.S. attorney whom Trump later rewarded with a Cabinet post.

However, true to form, Donald Trump’s attention span often shifts, and he has already begun to broaden his blame game concerning the Epstein files, now targeting figures like James Comey, Merrick Garland, and Joe Biden.

This pattern of deflection and scapegoating, particularly when facing personal or legal scrutiny, remains a defining characteristic of Donald Trump’s political strategy and his complex relationship with the legacy of Barack Obama.