Obama criticises Trump, claims rising cost of living is putting greater strain on Americans

WASHINGTON: Former United States President Barack Obama launched a public attack on President Donald Trump’s administration over the rising cost of living and the conflict with Iran as he campaigned for the Democratic Party ahead of the midterm elections.

Speaking at campaign rallies in Ohio and Michigan on Saturday, Obama described the upcoming elections as a crucial opportunity for Americans to limit the influence of the Trump administration, which he claimed had been marked by numerous failures.

“This election is the last best chance to at least put some limits on some of the nonsense coming out of this administration,” he said.

The elections, scheduled for November 3, will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of Trump’s administration, with early voting already underway in several states.

During his speech in Cleveland, Obama described the past two years under Trump as a period marked by chaos, corruption and incompetence.

“After two years of chaos, cruelty, corruption and incompetence rarely seen in modern times, Americans now have the opportunity to say, ‘enough is enough’,” he said.

Obama also acknowledged that many voters had rejected the Democrats in the 2024 election because of concerns over the economy and inflation following the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, he stressed that the current economic situation could not be separated from the policies introduced by the Trump administration.

“If you thought everything was too expensive before that guy, everything has become even more expensive now,” he said, referring to Trump.

He also criticised Washington’s approach to the conflict with Iran, claiming that the prolonged war had given Tehran greater influence over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

Meanwhile, Trump defended his handling of the conflict.

“I have handled it very effectively, and maybe I will have to end it, or maybe they will reach an agreement. Either way, we are going to win,” he told reporters.

Trump also responded, “We’ll see,” when asked whether Melania Trump would visit Ukraine after the White House claimed that the First Lady had helped secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky.

The US President is currently facing pressure to bring down oil prices, which have risen following the conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine.

Recently, his administration also reached an agreement with Russia allowing Russian diesel exports to the United States, despite criticism from politicians in both parties.

In another remark that drew attention from the audience, Obama also mocked Trump’s efforts to redecorate the White House.

“What’s with all the gold? He’s making the White House look like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” he joked.

Obama’s campaign appearance in Ohio marked his first participation in the 2026 midterm elections in support of Democratic candidates, including former Senator Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Republican Senator John Husted, and Amy Acton, who is running for Ohio governor against Vivek Ramaswamy.

Obama also criticised Ramaswamy over a campaign advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged biological mother, who accused the Democratic candidate of being a liar.

According to Obama, the move demonstrated that Acton’s opponent was willing to cross boundaries to attract voters’ attention.

“In recent days, we have seen that there is no line he will not cross and no low he will not stoop to in order to get attention,” he said.

Acton, who also addressed the rally, accused Ramaswamy of exploiting painful experiences from her childhood in an attempt to rescue his campaign, which she claimed was struggling to gain support ahead of the election.

Agencies