George Soros and Barack Obama: Their Political Connection Explained
George Soros and Barack Obama have a documented political connection, mainly through Soros’s support for Obama’s political rise and 2008 presidential campaign. Soros backed Obama early, hosted meetings and fundraising events involving him, and later donated to a political action committee supporting Obama’s 2012 reelection. Their relationship, however, was not a simple personal partnership. Soros later said he was disappointed with Obama’s presidency and criticized what he saw as a lack of transformational leadership.
The two men came from very different backgrounds. Obama built his career in community organizing, law and elected office before becoming the 44th president of the United States. Soros became wealthy through finance and later directed much of his fortune toward philanthropy and political causes.
Their names became closely linked during the 2008 presidential campaign. Soros was an early supporter of Obama and viewed him as a candidate capable of changing the direction of American politics.
The relationship became more complicated after Obama entered the White House.
How George Soros and Barack Obama Became Connected
The connection between Soros and Obama goes back to Obama’s years as an Illinois politician.
Soros was already a major Democratic donor when Obama began attracting national attention. In the mid-2000s, Soros hosted gatherings where Obama spoke with wealthy donors and political figures.
A documented account from the period describes Obama meeting influential people at Soros’s New York office before his 2008 presidential campaign fully developed.
Soros publicly endorsed Obama for president in 2008. He explained that he respected Hillary Clinton but believed Obama had the vision and political appeal to significantly redirect American policy.
That support made Soros one of the prominent wealthy figures associated with Obama’s early presidential campaign.
Soros Supported Obama Before the White House
Soros did not simply become interested in Obama after the 2008 election.
His support developed while Obama was still a relatively new national political figure.
Soros had already spent years supporting Democratic candidates and organizations. His interest in Obama reflected his broader political priorities and his opposition to many policies associated with the George W. Bush administration.
For Obama, support from wealthy donors was one part of a much larger fundraising operation. His 2008 campaign also became known for its enormous base of small-dollar contributors.
Soros’s role therefore should not be confused with being the sole or controlling financial force behind Obama’s campaign.
Did George Soros Fund Barack Obama’s Campaign?
Yes, Soros financially supported Obama’s political efforts.
The two men were connected through fundraising events as well as direct political contributions. Soros also became involved in outside political spending supporting Obama’s reelection.
In September 2012, Soros donated $1 million to Priorities USA Action, a super PAC supporting Obama’s reelection. He also contributed to other Democratic political organizations during that period.
Campaign finance rules distinguish between direct candidate contributions and money given to outside political committees. That distinction matters when discussing Soros’s financial support for Obama.
Saying that Soros supported Obama financially is accurate. Saying that Soros personally financed Obama’s presidency would be misleading.
Was George Soros a Close Friend of Barack Obama?
There is evidence of a political relationship and several meetings, but the public record does not establish the two men as close personal friends.
Obama met Soros before becoming president, including during the period when he was building his national political profile.
Their relationship after Obama entered the White House was more distant than some public discussions suggest.
A 2012 New Yorker report noted that Soros had not had the kind of regular White House access that some people might have expected given his financial support for Democratic politics. The report also described a private meeting between the two in New York.
That history is important because it shows the difference between political support and personal access.
Soros supported Obama’s candidacy, but that did not give him unlimited influence over the president.
Why Did George Soros Become Disappointed With Obama?
Soros’s opinion of Obama changed during the president’s first term.
In a 2012 interview, Soros said he was “disillusioned” with Obama and explained that he had expected more transformational leadership.
He also acknowledged that Obama had inherited extremely difficult problems, including the aftermath of the financial crisis.
Soros’s criticism was therefore not a claim that Obama had achieved nothing. It was a statement about the gap between the expectations Soros had when he supported Obama and his assessment of the administration’s performance.
This is one of the most important parts of their story because it shows that Soros and Obama were never simply political partners who agreed on everything.
Did Soros Regret Supporting Obama?
There is evidence that Soros later expressed regret about choosing Obama over Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primary.
In 2012, correspondence involving Soros and an associate of Clinton indicated that he appreciated Clinton’s willingness to meet with him and discuss policy.
Soros had also become critical of Obama’s leadership by that point.
His position evolved over time. He remained involved in Democratic politics, but his personal enthusiasm for Obama was clearly weaker than it had been before the 2008 election.
That distinction is often lost when the two names are discussed together.
George Soros’s Background
George Soros was born on August 12, 1930, in Budapest, Hungary.
As a teenager, he lived through the Nazi occupation of Hungary during World War II. His family survived by using false identity documents and helping others avoid persecution.
After the war, Soros left Hungary and eventually moved to London. He studied at the London School of Economics and later moved to the United States.
His career in finance made him extremely wealthy.
Soros became particularly well known as an investor and hedge fund manager. His financial success eventually allowed him to devote enormous resources to philanthropy.
The Open Society Foundations
Soros began his philanthropic work in 1979.
His foundation network later became the Open Society Foundations, which supports organizations working on issues including human rights, democracy, justice and government accountability.
The foundations have operated internationally for decades.
Soros has given tens of billions of dollars to philanthropic causes through the organization and other efforts.
His political giving is separate from many of his philanthropic activities, although the two areas are frequently discussed together because of his public involvement in political issues.
Barack Obama’s Background
Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
His mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was from Kansas, while his father, Barack Obama Sr., was from Kenya.
Obama spent part of his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia before returning to Hawaii, where he attended Punahou School.
He later studied at Occidental College and Columbia University.
After college, Obama moved to Chicago and worked as a community organizer. That experience became an important part of his political identity.
He later attended Harvard Law School and became the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review.
After returning to Chicago, he worked as a civil rights attorney and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago.
His political career progressed from the Illinois State Senate to the U.S. Senate and eventually the presidency.
Obama’s Presidency
Obama was elected president in November 2008 and took office on January 20, 2009.
He served two terms, leaving the White House in January 2017.
His presidency included the response to the Great Recession, the Affordable Care Act, major changes in U.S. foreign policy, the killing of Osama bin Laden, debates over immigration, and major disputes over national security and executive power.
He also appointed two Supreme Court justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.
After leaving office, he remained active through the Obama Foundation and other public projects.
As of September 2026, Obama is 65 years old.
Soros and Obama Were Not the Same Kind of Political Figure
One reason the two names are often discussed together is that both became associated with Democratic politics and progressive causes.
But their roles were fundamentally different.
Obama was an elected politician and president.
Soros was a private investor, philanthropist and political donor.
Obama had to operate through elections, legislation, executive authority and the institutions of government.
Soros used private wealth to support organizations, political campaigns and causes that reflected his own views.
That difference matters when evaluating claims about Soros’s influence.
Supporting a candidate does not mean controlling that candidate.
Likewise, a private donor’s political preferences do not automatically become government policy.
Did Soros Control the Obama Administration?
There is no reliable evidence establishing that George Soros controlled the Obama administration.
Soros had political influence through donations, advocacy and organizations supported by his philanthropy. That influence is a documented part of American political life.
But influence and control are different claims.
Obama remained an elected president operating through the White House, Congress, federal agencies and the courts. His administration also included officials and advisers with a wide range of backgrounds and policy views.
Soros himself became frustrated by his limited access to Obama, which further complicates the idea that he simply directed presidential decisions.
Did George Soros and Barack Obama Work Together?
They were aligned on some broad political issues, but there is no basis for describing them as formal business partners or co-workers.
Their strongest documented connection was political.
Soros supported Obama’s political rise and presidential campaigns. Obama appeared at events involving Soros and people within Soros’s donor network.
At the same time, Soros later criticized Obama’s leadership.
Their history is therefore better described as political support followed by disappointment, rather than a long-term personal partnership.
George Soros and Barack Obama: Key Facts
| Person | George Soros | Barack Obama |
|---|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1930 | August 4, 1961 |
| Birthplace | Budapest, Hungary | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Profession | Investor and philanthropist | Lawyer and politician |
| Major public role | Founder of Open Society Foundations | 44th U.S. president |
| Political connection | Supported Obama and Democratic causes | Received Soros’s political support |
| Presidency | Not applicable | 2009–2017 |
| Current age in September 2026 | 96 | 65 |
What Is Their Relationship Today?
The most accurate description is that Soros and Obama have a historical political connection.
Soros supported Obama before and during his rise to the presidency. Their political relationship received considerable attention because Soros was one of America’s best-known political donors.
But Soros later became critical of Obama’s leadership and expressed disappointment with the administration.
There is no strong public evidence that the two maintain the kind of close political partnership sometimes suggested in online discussions.
The documented history is more complicated and more ordinary than many claims make it appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are George Soros and Barack Obama related?
No. There is no known family relationship between George Soros and Barack Obama.
Did George Soros support Barack Obama?
Yes. Soros was an early supporter of Obama’s presidential ambitions and later gave money to a political committee supporting Obama’s 2012 reelection.
Did George Soros meet Barack Obama?
Yes. The two met before Obama’s presidency, including in connection with political and fundraising gatherings. They also had at least one private meeting after Obama became president.
Did Soros fund Obama’s 2008 campaign?
Soros financially supported Obama’s political efforts and was an important early backer. His political giving also included money directed to outside organizations and committees.
Did George Soros control Barack Obama?
There is no reliable evidence establishing that Soros controlled Obama or the Obama administration. Soros was a major political donor, but that is different from controlling government decisions.
Why did Soros criticize Obama?
Soros said he had expected more transformational leadership from Obama and became disappointed with what he saw as the administration’s approach.
Did Soros regret supporting Obama?
Soros later expressed regret about choosing Obama over Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primary and spoke positively about Clinton’s accessibility to him.
How old is George Soros?
George Soros was born August 12, 1930. He is 96 years old as of September 2026.
How old is Barack Obama?
Barack Obama was born August 4, 1961. He is 65 years old as of September 2026.
Final Takeaway
George Soros and Barack Obama have a documented political history, but it is more nuanced than the idea of a simple alliance. Soros backed Obama early, helped connect him with influential donors, and later supported his reelection through outside political spending. Once Obama was in office, however, Soros became openly disappointed with his leadership.
The two men therefore share a clear political history, but the public record does not support describing them as permanent partners or as having a relationship in which Soros controlled Obama’s decisions.
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