Fox News host Jesse Watters attempted to revive a more than a decade-old conspiracy theory about Barack Obama while defending Donald Trump's frequent emphasis on the former president's middle name.
"Trump talks a lot, he says a lot of things, so yeah, he's gonna mention Barack Hussein Obama," Watters said on Thursday. "Part of that is just he likes to say Hussein."
"Why does he like to say Hussein?" co-host Jessica Tarlov asked.
"'Cause it's funny that the president's middle name was Hussein," Watters said. "You don't think that's hysterical?"
Tarlov quipped that Trump clearly emphasizes Obama's middle name because he wants to continue trying to persuade people that the former president is Muslim. Prior to his presidential runs, Trump was one of the most fervent pushers of the so-called "birther" conspiracy theory, which alleged Obama wasn't born in the United States.
Watters' Claims About Obama's Religion
Watters went on to claim that Obama said he was a Muslim during the 2008 presidential campaign, likely referring to an ABC interview where the then-senator mistakenly said "my Muslim faith," before quickly correcting himself.
"I don't know what he is. I don't care what he is; he's probably an atheist," Watters said.
"You know what he is," Tarlov said.
"I know he's retired, poor Michelle," Watters replied.
Critics Label Watters Racist
Critics quickly labeled Watters a racist for his comments. Others pointed out that although Obama is Christian, what would it matter if he were Muslim?
On some level, Watters must know he's an idiot, right? https://t.co/qLDGhe8zfn
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) June 26, 2026
Why don't we just say the obvious? He says it because his racist base loves it and he's racist himself. https://t.co/rYCF4fk6gC
— Michael Freeman (@michaelpfreeman) June 25, 2026
He did? When? https://t.co/CunN2t0JV2
— Leslie Marshall (@LeslieMarshall) June 26, 2026
The dumbest man on television has a middle name of Bailey . Hysterical https://t.co/0JmI4ySj21
— Max'sDad (@traitortrumpy) June 25, 2026
This is the crux of MAGA, people who think things that are normal from other people's points of view are "hysterical" but angry that others don't share the view. https://t.co/z3LAxSGyhy
— Jaime Omar Yassin (@hyphy_republic) June 25, 2026
Why does @JesseBWatters get mentally more immature every day? https://t.co/LFbe2FsrMf
— Laurie (@TherapyDogsRock) June 25, 2026
I looked up "buffoon" in my Webster's earlier today and saw this guy's mug shot. . . . https://t.co/kZzrpN0vVP
— Steve McAllister (@StevieMacSports) June 25, 2026
President Obama is not Muslim, but if he was, so what? https://t.co/kPlqF0KOMM
— Rosalind Garcia (@GarciaRosalind) June 26, 2026
