Fact Check: Did Barack Obama encourage immigrants in the U.S. illegally to vote in a 2016 interview?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.


Claimant: Social Media


Claim: A 2016 interview clip shows Barack Obama encouraging people living in the United States illegally to vote.


Rating: BLATANT LIE


Explanation: The clip was shortened in a misleading way. In the full interview, Obama encouraged people who were legally eligible to vote, including Latino U.S. citizens, to participate. He also explicitly stated that a person voting is a citizen.


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Date: 07/25/2026


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Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Media Bias Fact Check