Fact Check: Was the shirtless Obama photo taken at Jeffrey Epstein’s island?

WASHINGTON, DC: A widely shared image of a shirtless Barack Obama resurfaced online in December 2025, accompanied by claims tying it to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. 

Social media posts alleged that fact-checking site Snopes had verified the photograph as having been taken on Epstein’s private island, reigniting conspiracy-driven chatter amid renewed public interest in Epstein-related documents.

Claim: Snopes verified the shirtless Barack Obama photo was taken at Jeffrey Epstein’s island

The core claim circulating online stated that Snopes, often labeled by critics as a 'liberal fact-checker,' had confirmed a photograph of former US President Barack Obama, shown shirtless in swimwear, was taken at Jeffrey Epstein’s private island.

Posts sharing the image asserted that Snopes determined the photo was 'completely unaltered' and therefore genuine, implying that Obama had been photographed on Epstein’s island. Some versions of the claim also misstated the island’s name, referring to it as 'Little St. John,' which added to the confusion.

These posts gained traction as thousands of Epstein-related court documents were being released by the Department of Justice, a context that made the allegation feel plausible to some readers scrolling quickly through social feeds.

Fact Check: The claim is false and based on satire, not verification

Snopes has confirmed it never verified or even reported that the shirtless Obama photo was taken at Jeffrey Epstein’s island. The assertion that Snopes authenticated such a claim is false.

In reality, the rumor originated from a satirical Facebook post by an account called America Loves Liberty, which is part of the America’s Last Line of Defense (ALLOD) network.

ALLOD openly describes itself as a satire and parody operation. The Facebook post itself included a visible 'satire' label in the bottom corner, and the page’s own introduction clearly states: “Nothing on this page is real.”

The confusion appears to stem from readers either missing or ignoring those disclaimers. Snopes later clarified that the claim was fabricated and that it had never linked Obama to Epstein’s island in relation to the photo.

While the photo itself is real, its alleged location is not. A reverse-image search shows the image has circulated publicly since at least 2008, long before Epstein’s island became a focal point of widespread public scrutiny.

The real origin of the photo and why the rumor spread

The photograph in question dates back to Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign period. It appeared in an August 2008 Hawaii Magazine article titled 'Beaches! Bodysurfing! Barack Obama begins his Hawaii vacation.'

The same image was later used by The Telegraph in December 2008 and again in January 2009, framing it as a lighthearted look at Obama’s public image and physique.

Over the years, reputable outlets continued to reuse the image. NBC News referenced it in a 2012 story about Obama’s love of surfing, while Vogue included it in a 2015 feature on pop culture and 'dadbod' fashion. Getty Images also hosts similar photos of Obama vacationing in Hawaii in late 2008, wearing the same style of black bathing suit.

The Epstein island angle emerged much later and was amplified by satirical sites linked to ALLOD, including The Dunning-Kruger Times, which openly brands itself as parody. Despite clear disclaimers, such content often spreads beyond its original satirical context, especially during moments of heightened political or cultural tension.

Snopes has previously debunked similar satirical claims alleging Obama’s involvement with Epstein, including fabricated stories about secret rituals and fictional honors. This latest rumor followed the same pattern, a real image, a false context, and satire mistaken for reporting.