Could Donald Trump Deport Barack Obama?

On the face of it, it’s absurd to think Donald Trump would go as far as to attempt to deport Barack Obama, but is it really? Trump has already threatened many of his political enemies with jail time, including Obama. He has called for military tribunals against former President Obama. Trump accused Obama of spying on his 2016 campaign and led chants of “lock him up” at a campaign rally. While Pam Bondi and Pete Hegseth will no doubt do their part. The courts are increasingly resisting doing Trump’s bidding, and there is little prospect of Obama going to jail.

Deporting Barack Obama is a whole ‘nother thing, and Trump has already discovered how he might do so. It will take an accusation, getting the cooperation of the Secret Service or removing Obama’s protection, and the lack of due process to contest any charge. Barack Obama could be whisked away to El Salvador or elsewhere and refuse to acknowledge or even discuss it due to national security considerations.

“His grandmother in Kenya said, ‘Oh, no, he was born in Kenya and I was there and I witnessed the birth.’ She’s on tape. I think that tape’s going to be produced fairly soon. Somebody is coming out with a book in two weeks, it will be very interesting.” — Donald Trump

Though Trump is already illegally deporting American citizens, he can make the case that Obama was born in Kenya. Trump spent years promoting birtherism, demanding Obama produce his long-form birth certificate and suggesting it wasn’t real when he did. Over the years, it has been alleged that Obama’s Kenyan grandmother said he was born in Africa, and fake Kenyan birth certificates have circulated on social media.

“He’s spent millions of dollars trying to get away from this issue. Millions of dollars in legal fees trying to get away from this issue. And I’ll tell you what, I brought it up, just routinely, and all of a sudden a lot facts are emerging and I’m starting to wonder myself whether or not he was born in this country.” — Donald Trump

All it would take for the Trump administration to deport Barack Obama is for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to issue a memo. Pete Hegseth or Pam Bondi could do the same. Trump isn’t big on following procedure. He just does what he wants to do. Given the opportunity, Obama could prove his American citizenship, but Obama might find, like hundreds of deportees before him. He may not get that chance.

“He doesn’t have a birth certificate, or if he does, there’s something on that certificate that is very bad for him. Now, somebody told me — and I have no idea if this is bad for him or not, but perhaps it would be — that where it says ‘religion,’ it might have ‘Muslim.’ And if you’re a Muslim, you don’t change your religion, by the way.” — Donald Trump

Donald Trump arguably became president in 2016 because of whitelash against America electing its first Black president. His victory in 2024 was at least partly due to many of the same people resenting the possibility of a Black woman. As he sinks in the polls, prices and inflation rise, and a recession becomes a reality, not just a possibility. Please don’t rule out the deportation of Barack Obama as a way to salvage his reputation. Trump would be dancing with the issue that got him elected in the first place. Deporting Barack Obama is a low probability, but after his first 100 days in office, is there anyone who believes anyone in his administration has the will to stop Trump if that’s what he decides?

—

This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.