In recent days, a viral social media post has stirred controversy with claims that President Donald Trump warned former President Barack Obama to stay out of the United States’ foreign affairs or face legal consequences under the Hatch Act. The post, which gained traction across platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram, has since been thoroughly debunked as false and satirical.
The post in question originated from David J Harris Jr, host of The Pulse on Newsmax, who shared it on Facebook on April 27. The image collage of Trump and Obama was accompanied by a sensational caption: “President Trump has officially warned Barack Obama to stay out of America’s foreign affairs or else face charges for violating the Hatch Act.”
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“This is after Obama made plans to visit El Salvador on his way to the NATO Summit in Costa Rica, which Trump was NOT invited to. Nor would he go,” the post continued. “He has no authority to speak on behalf of the United States. If Obama is brave enough to go, he’ll face US marshals on his return,” the post added.
The claims spread rapidly online, prompting fact-checkers to examine their legitimacy. According to Snopes, a well-established fact-checking organization, there is no evidence that Trump issued any formal or informal warning to Obama about international diplomatic activity or invoked the Hatch Act in any statement.
Snopes also debunked the notion of a NATO summit occurring in Costa Rica. As a nation not affiliated with NATO, Costa Rica has no authority to host such a summit. In fact, the next official NATO meeting is scheduled for The Hague in the Netherlands from June 24 to 26, 2025.
Furthermore, no credible reports indicate that Obama planned a visit to El Salvador or any related diplomatic activity. The post’s core claim — that Obama might be prosecuted under the Hatch Act — also falls apart under scrutiny. The Hatch Act is a federal law aimed at preventing political coercion and ensuring impartial administration by federal employees. However, it does not apply to former officials or private citizens, including ex-presidents such as Obama.
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Investigations revealed the post originated from “America’s Last Line of Defense” (ALLOD), a satirical Facebook network known for publishing fabricated stories designed for entertainment. A small watermark marked “ALLOD” in the post’s image further indicated its satirical origin.
The Dunning-Kruger Times, one of ALLOD’s associated sites, plainly states on its About Page: “Everything on this website is fiction… If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined.”
Despite its viral reach, the post serves as a reminder to scrutinize sensational claims, especially when they stem from known parody sources.
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