A video of Barack Obama recently went viral after he commented that “around 80% of the world’s challenges come from older men who can’t let go of power.”

The clip, reportedly from “An Evening With President Obama” at London’s O2 Arena on Sept. 24, 2025, shows Obama speaking with British historian David Olusoga. In the viral version, Obama says:

“It’s fair to say that 80% of the world’s problems involve old men hanging on — afraid of losing influence and recognition. They build monuments, they put their names on everything, and they get anxious about it.”

However, the short clip circulating on social media did not include the full context, and no official recording or transcript has been released yet. Media outlets are still verifying whether the quote was authentic.

Representatives from Obama’s office and the event organizer, Seat Unique, have been contacted for confirmation, but no official response has been given.

The event itself did take place, as confirmed by The Times and The Independent. Obama also shared a verified post from the same event on his official account, matching the visuals of the viral video.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Obama made a similar remark. Back in 2019 in Singapore, he said:

“If you look at the world and its problems, it’s usually older people — usually older men — not getting out of the way.”

Whether or not the viral 2025 quote is fully accurate, the message continues to resonate — sparking conversations about leadership, legacy, and change.