Former US President Barack Obama has criticised President Donald Trump over the war in Iran and rising consumer prices as he campaigned for Democratic candidates ahead of the November midterm elections.
As reported by the BBC on Sunday, speaking at rallies in Ohio and Michigan on Saturday, Obama urged voters to use the elections to hold the Trump administration accountable, describing the vote as an opportunity to limit what he called the president’s excessive actions.
“This election is our last best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness of this administration,” Obama told supporters in Ohio.
The November 3 midterm elections will determine which party controls the US Congress for the remainder of Trump’s term, with the outcome likely to influence how easily the president can advance his legislative agenda.
Early voting has already begun, with Trump casting his ballot in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday alongside First Lady Melania Trump before travelling to Georgia to campaign for Republican candidates.
Obama acknowledged that economic concerns, particularly inflation and the rising cost of living, contributed to voters turning away from Democrats in the 2024 presidential election.
However, he argued that Trump’s policies had failed to address those concerns, leaving Americans facing continued financial pressure.
“If you thought everything was too expensive before ‘you know who’,” Obama said, referring to Trump without mentioning his name, “everything is more expensive now”.
The former president also criticised the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict, arguing that the war had strengthened Tehran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important shipping route for global energy supplies.
His comments come as rising oil prices have added to pressure on the administration to demonstrate progress on the economy and international security.
Trump, meanwhile, defended his administration’s economic and immigration policies during a rally in Perry, Georgia, declaring that the United States was experiencing a period of renewed prosperity.
“We’re in the golden age of America,” he told supporters.
The president acknowledged that oil prices remained elevated but insisted the situation would improve.
“Our country is getting stronger and stronger all the time, and those pump prices are going to come down,” he said.
Trump also defended his tariff policies, claiming they were generating substantial revenue for the government.
He repeated a pledge to provide every adult American with a $5,000 payment if Republicans retained control of both chambers of Congress, although the proposal would require a workable funding mechanism and the necessary legislative support.
The president also attacked Democrats over immigration, accusing them of pursuing policies that would weaken border security.
During the rally, Trump used derogatory language to describe several countries while questioning why the United States accepted immigrants from those nations rather than countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
The conflict in Iran has emerged as another point of contention between the two parties as the midterm campaign intensifies.
Obama argued that the war had given Tehran significant influence over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of the world’s oil and gas supplies passes.
Trump defended his handling of the conflict when questioned by reporters, saying he had acted effectively and suggesting the United States could either conclude the military campaign or reach an agreement.
“I’ve done it very effectively, and I may have to finish it off, or maybe they’ll make a deal, but I’m not sure. Either way, we win,” he said.
The war, alongside concerns about fuel costs, could feature prominently in debates over the administration’s foreign policy and economic management.
Obama’s campaign appearances were also aimed at supporting Democratic candidates seeking to challenge Republicans in Ohio.
He campaigned for former senator Sherrod Brown, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted, and Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate running for governor against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
The former president criticised a campaign advertisement released by Ramaswamy’s campaign that featured Acton’s estranged mother accusing her of lying.
Obama argued that the advertisement crossed a line by bringing Acton’s childhood into the political contest. The controversy has drawn attention to the tactics being used in a closely watched gubernatorial race.
Acton, who also addressed the rally, accused Ramaswamy of exploiting her childhood to revive his struggling campaign.
“In recent days, we’ve seen there is no line he will not cross. No low he will not sink to try to get in the limelight,” Obama said.
The dispute illustrates how personal attacks and campaign advertising have become part of the broader political battle ahead of the midterms.
The November 3 elections will determine control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, shaping the political environment for the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
Republicans are seeking to maintain their congressional majorities, while Democrats are attempting to regain power and increase their ability to challenge the administration’s policies.
Obama’s return to the campaign trail highlights the Democrats’ efforts to mobilise voters around the economy, the Iran war and concerns about the administration’s conduct.
Trump, for his part, is urging supporters to back Republican candidates by highlighting his immigration and trade policies and promising further economic gains.
With voting already underway, both parties face the challenge of persuading Americans that their approach offers the most convincing response to the country’s economic and political concerns.