The rumor emerged shortly after Donald Trump voiced public frustration regarding recent rulings by the nation’s highest court.
WASHINGTON, DC: A viral social media rumor has alleged that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts accepted financial payouts from a limited liability company linked to former President Barack Obama prior to issuing decisions that went against President Donald Trump. The accusation has sparked widespread online debate, prompting a thorough investigation into its validity.
Claim: Judge received funds from Barack Obama
The speculation gained traction following a post on the platform X, which asserted that newly uncovered Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) files proved the Chief Justice had taken money from an Obama-affiliated LLC just ahead of key rulings adverse to the Trump administration.
According to the social media post, Roberts allegedly operated under a calculated pattern—exercising independent judgment on minor matters while supposedly being financially influenced to rule against Trump on major policy debates, such as birthright citizenship.
“FOIA documents show Chief Justice John Roberts received payments from an Obama-owned LLC just days before ruling against Trump!” — A claim shared widely by online commentators.
The post further accused Roberts of pocketing upwards of $5 million during the current term alone, framing him as politically compromised and allegedly acting on behalf of the “Deep State” rather than serving as an impartial magistrate. While many users in the comments section reacted with outrage, others immediately questioned the authenticity of the claims.
Fact Check: No supporting FOIA records exist
Extensive verification confirms there is zero credible evidence to support the allegation that Justice John Roberts received payments from the former president to sway judicial opinions against Trump. Consequently, the claim has been rated as entirely false.
A review of public databases shows no such FOIA records exist. An allegation of this magnitude—involving the head of the Supreme Court accepting millions in illicit payments—would undoubtedly be a major breaking story across mainstream media outlets.
Furthermore, standard web searches yield no verifiable data backing up the narrative. A closer examination of the social media account responsible for propagating the rumor shows a history of posting sensationalized and unverified content, suggesting the post may have originated as satire or parody.
Donald Trump voices dissatisfaction with Supreme Court decisions
The timing of the rumor closely follows a wave of public criticism from Trump regarding the Supreme Court. His frustration intensified after a ruling last month that preserved birthright citizenship, effectively blocking Trump’s executive order aimed at ending citizenship for children born in the US to non-citizen parents.
Expressing his grievances on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Does anybody have any idea how much Money and Prestige the United States Supreme Court has cost our Nation with their negative Rulings on Birthright Citizenship and TARIFFS? The answer, TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.”