Former United States President Barack Obama has criticised President Donald Trump over the war in Iran and rising living costs, urging Americans to use the November 3 midterm elections to hold his administration accountable.
Obama made the remarks while campaigning for Democratic candidates in Ohio and Michigan on Saturday, arguing that the elections offered voters an opportunity to check what he described as excesses of the Trump administration.
“This election is our last best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness of this administration,” Obama told supporters in Ohio, according to the BBC.
He acknowledged that inflation and the high cost of living contributed to the Democrats’ defeat in the 2024 presidential election but argued that Trump’s policies had failed to ease the financial burden on American households. “If you thought everything was too expensive before ‘you know who’, everything is more expensive now,” he said.
The former president also faulted Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, arguing that the war had strengthened Tehran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route for global oil and gas supplies. Rising energy prices have added to concerns about the administration’s economic and foreign policy decisions.
Trump, however, defended his record during a rally in Georgia, insisting that the US was experiencing a period of renewed prosperity. He acknowledged elevated oil prices but expressed confidence that petrol costs would fall, while defending his tariff policies and immigration stance.
Obama’s campaign appearances also focused on supporting Democratic candidates seeking to unseat Republicans, including former senator Sherrod Brown, who is challenging incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted in Ohio. He also backed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, criticising a campaign advertisement by her Republican rival, Vivek Ramaswamy, which featured accusations from Acton’s estranged mother.
The November 3 elections will determine control of both chambers of Congress for the remainder of Trump’s term.
While Republicans are seeking to retain their majorities, Democrats hope to regain congressional power, with the Iran war, inflation, immigration and the administration’s policies expected to feature prominently in the contest.
