Obama Says He Occupies a 'Whole Wing' in Trump's Mind

Former U.S. President Barack Obama characterized the frequent attacks by President Donald Trump against him as what he called an "obsession," emphasizing that Trump "knows well" not to insult him during direct, face-to-face meetings.

In an interview broadcast on Wednesday via the All The Smoke podcast, Obama remarked that Trump consistently occupies a space in his thoughts, adding sarcastically, "I have a whole wing inside his head."

He further explained that Trump refrains from using the same language in personal meetings because "he knows the boundaries well."

Obama also commented on the influence of social media and mobile phones, suggesting they give some individuals a sense of impunity, prompting them to make statements "they would not say in a direct confrontation," as reported by The New York Times.

Addressing his own approach to governance, the former president noted he was not preoccupied with his predecessors or constantly monitoring social media and news channels, since presidential duties demanded full attention to serving the American people.

He added that a continuous focus on previous officeholders, in his view, indicates a lack of concentration on citizens’ priorities and presidential responsibilities.

Obama’s remarks come amid an escalation of Trump’s attacks on him in recent weeks. Trump has reiterated criticism of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, sought to compare his recent understandings with Tehran to the achievements of Obama’s administration, and attacked the Obama Presidential Library project on social media platforms.

In response, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly addressed Obama’s comments, describing the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by his administration as one of its major failures and labeling Obama as "one of the weakest and worst presidents in U.S. history."