Obama Blasts Trump on Costs, Immigration & Ramaswamy Ad at Ohio Rally/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Barack Obama rallied for Ohio Democrats Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton on Saturday, criticizing President Donald Trump over rising costs, immigration enforcement and the Iran war. The former president also condemned Vivek Ramaswamy’s advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother as he expanded his support for Democrats in competitive states. Obama planned an evening appearance in Michigan and released endorsements in Florida as Republicans faced pressure to defend their congressional majorities.
Quick Look
- Ohio campaign stop: Obama appeared in Cleveland to support Senate nominee Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton.
- Economic criticism: He argued that Trump’s decisions were directly responsible for higher household costs.
- Acton advertisement: Obama condemned Ramaswamy’s use of Acton’s estranged mother in a campaign attack.
- Immigration enforcement: Obama criticized masked federal agents and the treatment of citizens during the administration’s crackdown.
- Michigan appearance: He planned to campaign for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit that evening.
- Florida endorsements: Obama released videos supporting gubernatorial candidate David Jolly and Senate candidate Angie Nixon.
- Republican defense: GOP operatives were prioritizing vulnerable incumbents as they sought additional White House resources.
- Alaska lawsuit: Attorney General Todd Blanche defended a federal election challenge involving two candidates named Sullivan.
Deep Look
Obama Rallies Ohio Democrats Ahead of November Election
Former President Barack Obama urged voters in Cleveland on Saturday to elect Democrats who could check President Donald Trump’s administration, delivering a sweeping critique of its economic decisions, immigration enforcement and conduct in office.
Campaigning for Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton, Obama argued that the Nov. 3 midterms offered voters an opportunity to change the direction of government even with Trump remaining in the White House.
The Ohio appearance opened a day of campaigning that also included a planned evening rally in Detroit for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Trump was scheduled to rally Republicans in Georgia that night before traveling to Michigan on Sunday, creating competing presidential appeals during the campaign’s closing stretch.
Obama Links Trump’s Decisions to Rising Costs
Obama made affordability a central theme, arguing that the administration’s policies had worsened the financial pressures facing Americans.
“Sometimes factors beyond a president’s control end up foiling the best laid plans. … A president doesn’t have control over the entire economy,” said Obama, who entered office shortly after the 2008 recession. “But that is not the case here. In this case, this administration’s actions are directly responsible for rising costs.”
He pointed to the war with Iran as an example.
“The current president chose to make a series of bad decisions,” Obama said.
The former president also contrasted Trump’s record with the promises he made during his 2024 campaign.
Voters concerned about the economy heard Trump “make a bunch of promises to get cost under control,” Obama said. “He also promised he’d impose tariffs that would bring down the deficit. He promised he’d stop getting us involved in unnecessary wars. He promised he’d pass a beautiful healthcare bill … that would make everyone’s lives better.”
“I think we should examine how did these promises work out,” Obama continued. “If you thought everything cost too much before you-know-who, everything is more expensive now.”
Obama Calls Hegseth “Not Serious”
Obama also criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, linking his leadership to the administration’s handling of the Iran war and its economic consequences.
He told the audience that Hegseth was “very focused on important matters like the jawlines and testosterone levels of our troops and livestreaming executions because that’s how he thinks you cultivate that manly warrior spirit.”
“How much time do you think this defense secretary spends looking at himself in the mirror in the morning?” Obama asked. “He’s working his hair because that’s how warriors look.”
Obama repeatedly characterized Hegseth as “not serious.”
“The problem is you end up having to pay the price for their lack of seriousness,” he said.
Immigration Criticism Focuses on Federal Enforcement Tactics
Obama said orderly borders and lawful immigration were compatible with rejecting the administration’s enforcement methods.
“I believe that we do need to make sure that our border is orderly and secure and that people who want to come here do so lawfully,” he said.
But he challenged the way the crackdown had unfolded.
“I don’t recall anybody campaigning on sending masked agents running through our streets. I don’t recall anybody talking about law-abiding citizens being arrested, detained or shot. We did not ask for that.”
The administration’s deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to major cities, along with federal agents’ killing of two Minneapolis residents earlier this year, has generated national controversy.
Some Republicans have distanced themselves from aspects of the enforcement campaign.
Obama Condemns Ramaswamy’s Advertisement Against Acton
Obama sharply criticized Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy over an advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother calling her a “liar.”
The advertisement has drawn objections from both Republicans and Democrats.
“In recent days, we’ve seen there is no line (Ramaswamy) will not cross. No low he will not sink to to try to get in the limelight. I mean, think about this latest ad he ran,” Obama told the Cleveland crowd.
“There is a decency that we should expect out of our public officials, and I don’t know what’s happened where the standards of behavior have gotten so low that somebody could run an ad like that,” he said, adding, “Character matters.”
Obama argued that Ramaswamy appeared more interested in political celebrity than the responsibilities of governing.
“We all know that guy. You know who’s just like thirsty, just wants to get attention no matter what, willing to do anything,” he said.
Acton Says Attack on Her Childhood Will Not Work
Acton drew an enthusiastic response when she addressed the advertisement herself.
“My opponent has chosen to exploit my childhood,” she began, pausing as the audience booed, “to save his struggling campaign but it’s not going to work!”
The crowd responded with cheers and an “Amy!” chant.
Acton said “compassion and decency still matter,” and insisted she “won’t back down from a fight.”
Her remarks placed the dispute over the advertisement alongside the rally’s broader arguments about leadership and the standards voters should expect from elected officials.
Obama Urges Voters to Change Congress and State Leadership
Obama acknowledged that the election would not end Trump’s presidency.
“We got two more years in this administration,” he said, drawing boos from the audience.
But he argued that voters still had meaningful power.
“That’s how our system of government works. But you know what? You know what we’re not stuck with? We’re not stuck with a spineless Congress and Republican governors who are enabling lawlessness and carelessness and cruelty and indifference for working people,” he said.
Obama urged voters to “flip that circuit breaker,” describing the midterms as “this election is our last best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness of this administration.”
He said Democrats must offer more than opposition, promising “real leadership” and “concrete plans” to address healthcare, housing and utility costs.
“We can’t just be against this administration’s behavior. We have to start showing them what a future on the other side of this administration can look like,” Obama said.
Florida Endorsements Extend Democratic Campaign Push
Beyond his campaign appearances, Obama released videos supporting Florida Democrats David Jolly for governor and Angie Nixon for the Senate.
“Florida holds a special place in my heart. We won twice because you believed in a better future,” Obama said in the Jolly video. “Now I’m supporting David Jolly for governor because he believes in it too.”
In his endorsement of Nixon, he highlighted her background as a community organizer.
“Angie has spent her career standing up for you,” Obama said.
“Different issues. Different moments. One leader willing to stand up again and again for what’s right,” he continued. “That’s why I believe Angie will be an outstanding US senator.”
Obama carried Florida in both 2008 and 2012. Democrats now face a more Republican-leaning electorate there.
The Cook Political Report rates Nixon’s race against Republican Sen. Ashley Moody as “solid” Republican. The governor’s contest between Jolly and Republican Byron Donalds is rated “lean” Republican.
Republicans Seek Resources to Protect Vulnerable Seats
Obama’s campaign activity comes as Democrats pursue opportunities in both Republican-leaning and closely divided states.
Democrats sometimes call him “the closer-in-chief” for his ability to energize voters in the final days before an election.
Republicans, meanwhile, have been pressing the White House for more assistance in competitive House races.
GOP campaign operatives have abandoned some opportunities to capture Democratic seats, redirecting their attention toward protecting Republican incumbents in areas traditionally considered favorable to the party.
Obama Mocks Trump’s White House Renovations, Questions His Priorities
Obama criticized President Donald Trump’s focus on renovation projects during a midterm campaign rally in Cleveland, arguing that the president was neglecting Americans’ concerns about rising costs.
“Does anybody really think this guy in the White House right now is spending all that time thinking about these issues? I mean, I don’t know if you noticed, but he seems very focused on home renovation,” Obama said.
As the administration pursues renovations at prominent Washington landmarks, Obama joked that Trump “should be on HGTV.”
“Guy’s building a ballroom that’s bigger than the White House. He’s paved over the Rose Garden, put helicopter bed on the south lawn, and there’s gold everywhere.” Obama said. “He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened the Cheesecake Factory. He’s clearly not focused on lower prices for you.”
Obama also framed the midterms as a choice about the country’s direction, saying, “we’re being driven by fear instead of by hope.”
Obama Casts Midterms as a Test of America’s Moral Compass
Obama framed the midterm elections as a referendum on the country’s moral direction during an Ohio rally Saturday, arguing that addressing rising costs and corruption requires restoring shared values.
“We don’t do any of those things if we don’t fix our moral compass. If we don’t return to some of those old-fashioned virtues,” Obama said as the crowd cheered. “We’re being driven by fear instead of by hope.”
He urged Americans to move beyond anger and division toward stronger connections with one another.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being angry, and I’m tired of being divided,” Obama said. “I wanna reach out and shake my neighbor’s hand.”
Obama was scheduled to continue campaigning Saturday evening in Detroit, where he planned to rally for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
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