While President Barack Obama has endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, his half-brother is on the opposing side. Malik Obama, 58, who hails from Kenya but is registered to vote in Maryland, is reportedly going with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The president's older brother also expressed disappointment with the way Barack Obama handled his government.
Malik Obama revealed his choice via New York Post. He said that Donald Trump "speaks from the heart" and hopes he would be able to meet the Republican one day.
Malik Obama Feels More Republican Than Democrat
Although Malik Obama is a Democrat just like his high profile brother, he chose to switch to the other side especially after the current U.S. government failed to prosecute Hillary Clinton for her lapses as the former Secretary of State. Malik Obama also thinks his brother's government killed the Libyan leader, Moammar Khadafy, whom Malik treats as a best friend.
But for a more personal reason, Malik Obama doesn't support same sex marriage, which Barack Obama's government upholds. "I feel like a Republican now because they don't stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me," he told New York Post.
Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2016
Barack Obama and Malik Obama's Strained Relationship
Malik and Barack have the same father, but only met each other in 1985 for the first time. Malik was even Barack's best man when he married Michelle in 1992, per Telegraph.
CBS News reports that Malik Obama worked as an accountant in Maryland before moving back to his home country in Kenya. But the brothers' relationship has been strained for years, especially after a controversy surfaced over the Barack H. Obama Foundation, named after their dad.
Allegedly, Malik Obama was the director of the charity organization, which didn't have a state registration and got him in trouble with the IRS. The president reportedly didn't help him fix this. "He wanted me to shut it down when I set it up," Malik said.
