Donald Trump has told of his shock after it emerged his presidential bid has been endorsed by Barack Obama’s half-brother.
Mr Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, tweeted “Wow” after Malik Obama said he would like to meet him in an interview with the New York Post.
The president’s half-brother told the newspaper: “I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart. Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him.”
The newspaper reported that Malik Obama fell out with his brother when he “did” nothing to help his own political career in 2013 when he launched a bid for governor of Kenyan county Siaya.
Speaking from his home in the Kenyan village of Kogelo, Mr Obama, 58, said he had switched support from the Democrats over disappointment in his relative’s administration.
He added the Democrats support of same-sex marriage had also caused him to drift away from the party.
He told the New York Post: “I feel like a Republican now because they don’t stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me,” he said
The surprising revelation was quickly seized upon by Mr Trump who took to Twitter to inform his followers.
He tweeted: “Wow, President Obama's brother, Malik, just announced that he is voting for me. Was probably treated badly by president-like everybody else!”
The president didn’t meet his half-brother until 1985 after his father left Kenya in 1959 when Malik was just a year old.
