On the eve of the final presidential debate, Donald Trump made waves when he invited the sitting president’s estranged half-brother, Malik Obama, to be his guest for the contest.
The invitation set off a media firestorm within hours of the announcement, and reportedly prompted the Clinton campaign to scrap the traditional pre-debate handshake. But in the long run, it likely changed very little.
A political novelty, Malik’s presence doesn’t carry much weight and represents a missed opportunity for a Trump team in desperate need for a win.
Unlike his younger brother in the White House, Malik, 58, is a polygamous Kenyan accountant who holds dual citizenship and plans to cast his vote for a Republican in the U.S general election.
On Tuesday he made headlines when he confirmed with the New York Post that he planned to punch his ticket for the third and final presidential debate at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.
“I’m excited to be at the debate,” Malik said before regurgitating the candidate’s canned slogan. “Trump can make America great again.”
Other than his very public sibling rivalry though, his presence isn’t remarkable because it isn’t likely to tip the political needle of public opinion in Trump’s favor. It just shows that the first family, like all families, sometimes squabbles.
Seemingly nursing a grudge, Malik told the New York Post that since his younger brother became president he’s become “very business-like, very formal.”
But If eight years of the Obama administration and a bruising presidential campaign hasn’t swayed undecided voters already, the Obama brother’s family feud probably isn’t going to win them over.
Regardless, neither Obama will take to the debate stage tonight. Even if the 43rd president stood opposite Trump, recent CNN/ORC poll show that the Democrat is experiencing record levels of popularity with the American public.
It’s also a tactical debate error.
Unlike the women who had accused Bill Clinton of sexual assault, Malik won’t rattle Clinton. And unlike the mother of a Benghazi victim, his presence doesn’t bolster Republican claims about the Secretary of State’s former policy failures.
Unless Trump or Clinton spar over the president’s family during Wednesday’s debate, the Obama gimmick will likely fizzle without effect.
With less than three weeks left before Election Day and as Trump continues to lag behind Clinton in most national polls, every missed opportunity is one that he can’t afford.
Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
