Overview
- The president, speaking at a White House briefing Monday on the Iran war, referenced Osama bin Laden and pointed to his 2000 book as proof of his instincts.
- Newsweek reviewed the remarks and ruled claims that he said he took out bin Laden as false, noting he cited his book rather than the 2011 raid.
- Official accounts state that U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six killed bin Laden on May 2, 2011 in Abbottabad, Pakistan, during Obama’s presidency.
- Critics on X, including journalists and political figures, mocked the comment and questioned his credibility, while Newsweek sought White House comment.
- Newsweek noted he has made similar references before, including in October 2025, and that his book contains only a brief mention of bin Laden rather than a call to kill him.