Why Obama’s LinkedIn page has a photo of Trump

Barack Obama’s LinkedIn page has a new profile picture, except it isn’t his. Instead, it’s Donald Trump’s face staring back at anyone who clicks on it.

The odd mix-up has quickly caught people’s attention online. One post pointing it out racked up more than 1.4 million views on X, with users amused at the strange swap.

So how did Obama end up with Trump’s photo on his LinkedIn? And why has it sparked such a reaction? Here’s a closer look.

Why did this happen?

At first glance, it looked like Obama’s LinkedIn had been hacked or tampered with. But the explanation is less sinister and more about how LinkedIn works.

When someone lists a job on LinkedIn, the platform often links it to the organisation’s official page. In Barack Obama’s case, his eight years as President of the United States are tied to the White House page.

Obama’s LinkedIn page now has Trump on it after the WH changed its profile picture pic.twitter.com/DHxhc19fEs

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 3, 2025

That’s where the issue begins. The White House LinkedIn page currently shows Donald Trump’s photo. Since LinkedIn automatically imports that picture for anyone who lists the White House on their CV, every former president, staffer or intern connected to the page now has Trump’s face hovering over their work history.

So Obama hasn’t uploaded the wrong picture. It’s simply LinkedIn doing what LinkedIn does, and in this case, it’s made for a very awkward visual.

Also read: Can Trump really prosecute Obama over the 2016 Russia probe?

‘Greatest troll of all time’

The internet wasted no time turning this viral. Users flooded the thread with memes and snarky commentary: “Greatest troll of all time,” one user wrote, while another quipped, “This kind of pettiness is why Trump’s favourability drops by the day.”

A third joked, “Whoever made the decision needs an immediate raise!” while one more added, “The dudes on Trump’s social media team are hilarious.”

But not everyone found it funny. Former White House staffers weren’t exactly amused to see Trump’s face plastered over their resumes.

“I served as President Obama’s Director of Press Advance, not President Trump’s,” Johanna Maska posted on LinkedIn, tagging the platform’s leadership. “Can you please enforce your rules and make sure institutions are accurately represented on this platform?”

Former George W Bush staffer Scott Stanzel echoed the frustration, calling it “a misrepresentation that needs to be corrected.”

LinkedIn later responded to the backlash. A spokesperson told The San Francisco Standard: “Our policies allow LinkedIn Pages to update logos and photos associated with the account.”

Maska, however, argued the platform was breaking its own rules. In an email to the outlet, she pointed to LinkedIn’s community policies, which prohibit sharing “false or misleading content.” She said the current White House page violated that rule by showing only Trump’s photo.

“Donald Trump’s picture is not an accurate representation of the institution of the White House,” Maska said. “We all have badges for a short time, access to the White House only at the discretion of the voters, at the whim of the people, even Mr. Trump.”

She added that she had yet to hear back from LinkedIn directly. The only response so far came from Jeff Weiner, the company’s executive chairman, who left a cryptic comment, “WNS AmaurO”, on her post. The remark was later deleted.

“I mean, at least he saw it,” Maska said.

Also read: ‘No one is above the law’: Trump posts AI-generated video of Obama’s ‘FBI arrest’

The big picture

At first glance, the switch might look harmless. But in reality, it’s another way Trump has managed to blend his own brand with that of the presidency itself.

Adam Rosenberg, a communications and political consultant, told Axios that the move is more than trolling; it’s smart marketing. By swapping in Trump’s face, the page not only needles political opponents but also gains a boost in visibility on LinkedIn.

“People act like this team has no comms playbook, and they actually do,” Rosenberg explained. “They’re incredibly digitally savvy to think of this first. It’s also clearly meant to bait Democrats into using the ‘he thinks he’s a King’ argument in media.”

With input from agencies