Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to return to his “birther” conspiracy theory roots during a campaign event in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The former US president — one of the most prominent pushers of the false claim that former President Barack Obama was not born in America — claimed President Joe Biden’s administration was “inviting” terrorists into the country because his “boss” is secretly Obama.
“Barack Hussein Obama, Barack Hussein, Barack Hussein Obama,” said Trump. Right-wingers have previously referenced Obama’s middle name as a short-hand to suggest he is not American (he was born in Hawaii).
Trump then recalled late right-wing talk radio host Rush Limbaugh’s penchant for calling Obama by his full name, with added emphasis on the “Hussein” part.
Limbaugh, who died in February 2021, frequently flipped out over Obama.
At various points, he likened Trump’s predecessor to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, said he looked “demonic” in some photos and claimed he was a “radical ideologue” who hated America.
Limbaugh also called Obama supporters “even more vile than he is” and “savages.”
Trump, perhaps predictably, was a big fan. He hailed Limbaugh as “the greatest fighter and winner you will ever meet” when awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the 2020 State of the Union.
Trump has, in recent weeks, repeatedly hinted — without offering any evidence — that Obama is controlling Biden.
Late Show host Stephen Colbert described it as a “2007 dog whistle.”