Fact check: Former President Barack Obama stated at a global leadership event that 80% of the world's problems come from old men in…

Verdict: mostly true — Trust Score 75/100

Former President Barack Obama did state at a global leadership event in London in September 2025 that "80% of the world's problems involve old men hanging on who are afraid of death and insignificance, and they won't let go." He also argued that clinging to power blocks innovation and called for younger voices. This is confirmed by 15 sources including Newsfirst, Snopes, and India Today. While the quote and its context are widely reported, the specific claim that Business Insider was the direct source for this particular event's quote is not definitively confirmed by the search results.

mostly true verification card — Trust Score 75/100
Platform
instagram
Source author
richpeoplelifehub — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ8AG75zLil/?igsh=cTlqejZjdXJ2eDhq
Verified on
June 25, 2026
Verification ID
TSb6Ai8gLHheQfh8kj4T_A

Original content reviewed

Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @richpeoplelifehub --- Caption/Description --- At a global leadership event, former President Barack Obama said 80% of the world’s problems come from old men in power refusing to step aside. He argued that clinging to power blocks innovation and keeps outdated ideas alive, calling for younger voices in politics, business, and beyond. His comments reignited the global debate about leadership age - and whether the problem is years lived or systems that never change. Follow @richpeoplelifehub for more content Obama just called out the old guard. Do you think leadership should have an age limit? Source: Business Insider --- On-Screen Text (OCR) --- R FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS 80% OF THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS COME FROM OLD MEN HANGING ON AND REFUSING TO STEP DOWN Published: 2026-06-23T17:56:46.000Z ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: INSTAGRAM Author: @richpeoplelifehub --- Caption/Description --- At a global leadership event, former President Barack Obama said 80% of the world’s problems come from old men in power refusing to step aside. He argued that clinging to power blocks innovation and keeps outdated ideas alive, calling for younger voices in politics, business, and beyond. His comments reignited the global debate about leadership age - and whether the problem is years lived or systems that never change. Follow @richpeoplelifehub for more content Obama just called out the old guard. Do you think leadership should have an age limit? Source: Business Insider --- Visible Text/Media --- On-screen text states: "FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYS 80% OF THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS COME FROM OLD MEN HANGING ON AND REFUSING TO STEP DOWN." --- Claims to Verify --- 1. Former President Barack Obama stated at a global leadership event that 80% of the world's problems come from old men in power refusing to step aside. 2. Obama argued that clinging to power blocks innovation and keeps outdated ideas alive. 3. Obama called for younger voic

Claims analyzed (4)

  1. verified: Former President Barack Obama stated at a global leadership event that 80% of the world's problems come from old men in power refusing to step aside.
    Barack Obama made this statement at an event titled "An Evening With President Obama" at London's O2 Arena on September 24, 2025. He was interviewed by British historian David Olusoga. The quote, "It's fair to say that 80 percent of the world's problems involve old men hanging on who are afraid of death and insignificance, and they won't let go," was widely reported by multiple news outlets.
  2. verified: Obama argued that clinging to power blocks innovation and keeps outdated ideas alive.
    During the same September 2025 event in London, Obama emphasized that leadership should not be about ego and that leaders are "not there for life." He has previously stated that global dysfunction is "usually old people, usually old men, not getting out of the way," implying that clinging to power hinders progress.
  3. verified: Obama called for younger voices in politics, business, and beyond.
    Obama has consistently advocated for a new generation of leaders and younger voices. He has done so in various forums, including the Obama Foundation's initiatives and speeches.
  4. mixed: The source for this information is Business Insider.
    While Business Insider has reported on Obama's comments regarding leadership and 'old men' in the past (e.g., in 2019 and 2020), a direct article from Business Insider specifically covering the September 2025 global leadership event with the exact quote and attribution as the primary source for this particular statement was not found in the search results. Other reliable sources like Newsfirst, Snopes, and India Today reported on the 2025 event and quote.

Sources consulted (15)

Related verifications

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