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Facebook posts
Facebook posts
stated on August 25, 2023 in a video:

Tafari Campbell was “murdered.”

False

Tafari Campbell’s drowning death was accidental, he wasn’t murdered, according to medical examiner

If your time is short

  • Tafari Campbell’s drowning death was ruled accidental. 
 
See the sources for this fact-check

“Why was Tafari Campbell murdered?” asks an Aug. 25 Facebook post that plumbs conspiracy theories, including that former President Barack Obama was responsible for the July 23 death of Campbell, his family’s personal chef.  

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

We’ve previously debunked several claims about Campbell, including that his mother spoke out to expose the Obamas; that his wife blamed Obama for her husband’s death; and that before he died, Campbell said he had information that would lead to Obama’s arrest.

Campbell wasn’t murdered, officials said. And state police have said Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama weren’t home when Campbell was seen struggling in the water July 23 while paddleboarding near the Obamas’ Martha’s Vineyard home off the Massachusetts coast. 

The Massachusetts chief medical examiner ruled Campbell’s drowning death accidental. 

We rate claims he was murdered False.

Our Sources

Facebook post, Aug. 25, 2023

PolitiFact, Fact-checking conspiracy theories about death of Obamas’ personal chef, Aug. 2, 2023

The New York Times, Drowning Death of Obama Family Chef Is Ruled an Accident, Aug. 22, 2023


 

Tafari Campbell’s drowning death was accidental, he wasn’t murdered, according to medical examiner

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino