Former President Barack Obama slammed the administration of current President Donald Trump from multiple angles Saturday during a rally for Ohio Democrats. He summarized Trump’s second term thus far as “two years of chaos and cruelty.”
One major issue Obama criticized Trump on was affordability, a top concern for voters heading into the midterm elections next month. Polls have shown for months that the president’s approval rating on the economy has been flailing as inflation remains elevated.
While Trump campaigned on bringing prices down, Obama noted that “everything is more expensive now,” and he attributed that directly to Trump’s policies. Trump also campaigned on a promise to keep the U.S. out of unnecessary foreign wars, but announced this year that the U.S. would join Israel to attack Iran – a choice that has remained unpopular with the public.
Not only has the move been unpopular, it has resulted in Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, an important oil route. That block has directly contributed to rising gas prices globally. In the U.S., average national prices per gallon have been more than $4 for much of this year.
When Trump first announced the strikes on Iran, he said one goal of the military action was to make Iran stop its nuclear program. Trump has called a nuclear deal brokered with Iran during the Obama years “stupid,” but Obama said Saturday that it like it seems would have been better of to stay in the deal. Obama mentioned that U.S. allies and bases have been attacked, that Americans have been killed and wounded, that we have run down our stock of missiles and that the war is still going seven months after that first announcement.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also got some shade from Obama. He joked that the former Fox host is concerned with “important” issues like troops’ jaw lines and testosterone levels.
“How much time do you think this defense secretary spends looking at himself in the mirror in the morning? You know he’s working his hair, because that’s how warriors look,” said Obama. “These are not serious people.”
He added: “You end up having to pay the price for their lack of seriousness.”
Obama also took issue with Trump’s tariffs, which he said have only made things more expensive for Americans consumers.
“The big trade war he’s starting now is with that well-known evil empire, Canada,” said Obama of Trump targeting Canada for tariff hikes. “I mean, these are the people who gave us maple syrup and Martin Short. They’re the nicest people.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Former first lady Michelle Obama and Former U.S. President Barack Obama attend a ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 11, 2026 in New York City. The United States is marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when a group of al-Qaeda hijackers flew airplanes into the World Trade Center, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people.Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesThe former president brought up the rising ($40 trillion) deficit, “masked agents” going after law abiding U.S. citizens and tax breaks for the nation’s wealthiest. Regarding Trump himself, Obama said the current president seems more interested with “home renovations” than running the country, referring to projects like the White House ballroom and the reflecting pool as well as the new gold-heavy White House décor.
“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” said Obama. “There’s gold everywhere.”
Obama encouraged rally attendees to vote for Sherrod Brown, a Democrat running against incumbent Sen. Jon Husted and Dr. Amy Acton, a Democrat running against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for the governor seat currently held by Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
