On Thursday, Jesse Watters returned to a familiar Obama conspiracy lane—spotlighting Barack Hussein Obama’s middle name and linking it to claims about religion—prompting sharp pushback from fellow co-host Jessica Tarlov and critics who accused him of racism an
On Thursday, Jesse Watters leaned into a familiar target—Barack Hussein Obama—and tried to treat it like a joke. “Trump talks a lot, he says a lot of things, so yeah, he’s gonna mention Barack Hussein Obama,” Watters said. “Part of that is just he likes to say Hussein.”
That line didn’t land with Jessica Tarlov. “Why does he like to say Hussein?” she asked. Watters answered with the premise he wanted the audience to accept: “’Cause it’s funny that the president’s middle name was Hussein.”
Tarlov pushed back immediately, framing the emphasis as a political strategy rather than wordplay. She quipped that Trump highlights Obama’s middle name because he wants to continue trying to persuade people that the former president is Muslim.
The exchange pulled a thread from Trump’s earlier rhetoric. Before his presidential runs, Trump had been one of the most fervent pushers of the so-called “birther” conspiracy theory—an allegation that Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
Watters then went further, moving from name-calling to religion. He claimed 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.”
Watters said, “I don’t know what he is. I don’t care what he is; he’s probably an atheist.” He continued, as if the point was to show he didn’t need to understand the details—only to imply something.
Tarlov answered with directness: “You know what he is.”
Watters replied, “I know he’s retired, poor Michelle.”
Critics moved quickly. Some labeled Watters racist for his comments. Others argued the logic he was using didn’t make sense in the first place. pointing out that although Obama is Christian. it would not matter if he were Muslim—because his faith is not the determining factor in the political questions being debated.
Jesse Watters Barack Hussein Obama Jessica Tarlov Trump Obama middle name Hussein birther conspiracy ABC interview Muslim faith criticism
People really still talking about Hussein in 2026? It’s like they can’t let it go.
So he says it’s “just funny” because Hussein is his middle name… but then it’s also about religion?? Make it make sense. I feel like they’re baiting people to think Muslim = bad.
Wait didn’t Obama say “my Muslim faith” in some interview? Or am I mixing it up with like, all the birther stuff? Either way, I don’t care what his religion is, it’s the country not a church test. Jesse just sounds like he wants a gotcha and doesn’t even know the facts.
Why is everyone acting like “Hussein” automatically means Muslim?? I swear half the time people decide stuff in their head and then argue about it. Also “atheist”?? He’s retired, poor Michelle?? That’s such a weird leap. Sounds racist to me but also kinda dumb, like the logic is backwards.