Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump over the Iran war, rising consumer prices and White House renovations as he campaigned for Democratic candidates in Ohio and Michigan on Oct. 24, less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Obama urged voters to hold the Trump administration accountable, telling supporters in Cleveland, Ohio, that the election offered an opportunity to limit what he described as the administration’s excesses. “This election is our last best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness of this administration,” Obama said, according to BBC News.
The former president’s appearances aimed to support Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton in Ohio, as well as Democratic candidates in Michigan, including Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
The midterm elections will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of Trump’s term and could shape the administration’s ability to advance its legislative agenda.
Obama targets Trump over economy and Iran war
Obama focused much of his criticism on the economy, arguing that Trump had failed to address the cost-of-living concerns that helped shape the 2024 presidential election. “If you thought everything was too expensive before ‘you know who,’” Obama said, referring to Trump without naming him, “everything is more expensive now,” according to BBC News.
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He also criticized the administration’s handling of the war in Iran, arguing that the conflict had increased economic uncertainty and strengthened Tehran’s leverage over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies.
Trump, meanwhile, acknowledged that oil prices were temporarily high but maintained that they would decline. At a rally in Georgia, he defended his administration’s economic and tariff policies, saying the country was entering a period of renewed strength. The president also repeated his pledge to give every adult American $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress, according to BBC News.
White House renovations draw criticism
Obama also mocked Trump’s efforts to renovate the White House, criticizing the gold-colored decorations added to the building. “What’s with all the gold? He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened up a Cheesecake Factory,” Obama joked at the Cleveland rally, according to BBC News.
The remarks formed part of a broader critique of the administration, with Obama questioning its priorities and accusing it of failing to address issues affecting ordinary Americans.
Trump, in turn, attacked Democrats at his Georgia rally, accusing them of pursuing policies that would undermine economic prosperity and border security.
Ohio races draw national attention
In Ohio, Obama campaigned for Brown, a former senator seeking to return to the Senate, and Acton, the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the gubernatorial race.
Obama also criticized a campaign advertisement released by Ramaswamy’s campaign that featured Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar. Acton has publicly discussed childhood sexual abuse and her separation from her mother. Obama accused Ramaswamy of crossing ethical lines with the advertisement. Acton, speaking at the same rally, said her opponent was using her childhood experiences for political purposes.
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Ramaswamy’s campaign defended the advertisement, while Trump expressed support for it, according to media reports. The controversy added to the attention surrounding Ohio’s gubernatorial contest, which is taking place alongside a closely watched Senate race.
Michigan campaign and congressional control
Obama also campaigned in Michigan for El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee, as Democrats sought to strengthen their position in a state central to the battle for Senate control.
The former president’s appearances in the Midwest were part of a broader Democratic effort to mobilize voters before Election Day. Trump has also campaigned for Republican candidates, encouraging voters to treat the midterms as a referendum on his administration.
With early voting underway, both parties are seeking to turn voter concerns about the economy, immigration and the administration’s policies into support at the ballot box. The Nov. 3 elections will determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump’s presidency, making the final days of campaigning important for both parties.