 "When GQ profiled Malik in 2013, Malik Obama claimed that he and his half-brother shared a knack for leadership because it is 'all in the genes.' Image courtesy: X/ @malikobama")
They say the family will always have your back. However, strife between siblings often plays out in the most unexpected ways.
Such was the case with Malik Obama, half-brother of former US President Barack Obama, who has recently captured attention by announcing his support for Donald Trump for the upcoming November 5 election.
Once Best Man at Barack’s wedding, Malik is now aligning himself with his brother’s rival political party.
On X, he made his position clear: “I am Malik Obama. I’m a registered Republican and I’m voting for President Donald Trump.”
But why is Malik supporting Trump instead of his sibling’s political party? Let’s take a closer look
Who is Malik Obama?
The Kenyan-American businessman and philanthropist was born in Kenya to economist Barack Hussein Obama Sr. and his first wife, Kezia Obama.
Inspired by his younger brother Barack, Malik in 2013 attempted to run for governor in Siaya, Kenya in the district where their father was from. His campaign slogan was “Obama here, Obama there” in reference to his half-brother who was serving his second term as the President of the US.
Despite his efforts, Malik received only 1 per cent of the vote. Nevertheless, his ambitions have continued across both continents.
Malik currently serves as the lead ambassador at Puppet, a software configuration management tool, according to The Times of India.
Previously, Malik has had a long career in the US which includes roles at notable organisations such as the American Red Cross, aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin, and the government-backed finance company Fannie Mae.
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According to a 2016 New York Post report citing public records Malik maintains a residence in Maryland and was registered to vote in the state.
Malik Obama’s personal life is also marked by controversy. Reports from 2012 suggested he had twelve wives, though Malik has refuted this, claiming to have three.
Malik, a practicing Muslim, also faces allegations of domestic abuse. He made headlines in 2011 when he married a teen girl as his third wife.
His lifestyle and values often diverge from traditional American norms, contributing to his complex public image.
Barack is a ‘deep disappointment’
Malik Obama, who once served as the best man at Barack Obama’s wedding and received a similar honour in return, has witnessed several ups and downs in their relationship.
When GQ profiled Malik in 2013, Malik Obama claimed that he and his half-brother shared a knack for leadership because it is “all in the genes.” He even visited Barack at the White House during his time in office.
However, things soured between the two in the years that followed.
In a 2020 interview with The New York Post, Malik revealed that their falling out stemmed from his decision to launch the charity named after their father in Virginia. Later, the foundation was caught in controversy in 2011 after it was exposed for failing to register in the state and falsely claiming tax-exempt status.
“My brother didn’t help me at all. He wanted me to shut it down when I set it up. He hasn’t supported me at all,” Malik said in the interview.
He added, “Honestly, I’ll be happy when my brother is out of office, and I will finally be out of the limelight and be able to live like a human being.”
Adding fuel to conspiracy theories once propagated by Donald Trump, Malik also claimed that Barack was not born in the US but in Kenya.
He even shared a fake birth certificate in an attempt to support his claims, despite it being dated from before Kenya became a republic in 1964.
Calling his younger half-sibling a “deep disappointment,” Malik blamed his departure from the Democratic Party on 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton.
In a New York Post interview in 2020, Malik claimed that his half-brother “got rich and became a snob.”
“What I saw was he was the kind of person that wants people to worship him. He needs to be worshiped and I don’t do that," he added.
Previously, Malik Obama has also expressed dissatisfaction with his brother’s presidency, and his past friendship with former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
“I still feel that getting rid of [Gaddafi] didn’t make things any better in Libya,” he said in 2016. “My brother and the Secretary of State disappointed me in that regard.”
In 2022, he wrote in a post on X, “I stuck with Barack Obama all through his presidency, until I realised he was all about himself. That’s when I ditched him for President Trump."
Why is he endorsing Trump?
Malik Obama’s support for Donald Trump is rooted in several factors.
A supporter of Trump since 2016, Malik attended a Las Vegas debate organised by the Trump campaign and has praised the Republican leader.
“I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart,” he told the New York Post. “Make America Great Again is a great slogan.”
In a Washington Post report, Malik has also expressed skepticism about allegations of sexual assault against Trump. He believes that the women who’ve accused the leader of sexual assault are lying, and questioned why they didn’t come forward sooner.
Malik is also strongly opposed to the expansion of LGBT rights, a cause championed by his brother, Barack Obama. His conservative stance on issues like same-sex marriage and abortion is clear, as he often shares his views on social media.
After Trump promised free IVF treatments in his potential second term, Malik posted on X, “We Want More Babies. My President.”
Malik Obama’s support for Trump comes amidst a wave of political shoutouts and family drama dominating the headlines. As notable figures like Jeff Walz and Malik Obama make bold moves, their actions are sparking conversations and debates across the political spectrum, adding fuel to the ongoing political discourse.
With input from agencies