Former U.S. President Barack Obama has accused President Donald Trump’s administration of worsening economic pressures and mishandling the war in Iran, urging Americans to use the November 3 midterm elections to hold the government accountable.
Obama made the remarks during campaign appearances in Ohio and Michigan on Saturday, where he rallied support for Democratic candidates seeking to challenge Republicans in the upcoming congressional and state elections.
“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 former president said Americans were still struggling with the rising cost of living, arguing that the administration had failed to ease the financial pressures that influenced voters during the 2024 presidential election.
“If you thought everything was too expensive before ‘you know who’, everything is more expensive now,” he said, referring to Trump without naming him directly.
Obama also faulted the administration’s handling of the conflict with Iran, arguing that the war had increased Tehran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for international oil and gas shipments.
The conflict has coincided with higher oil prices, adding to concerns about fuel costs and the broader economic consequences for American households.
Trump, however, defended his record during a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, insisting that the country was experiencing a period of economic strength despite elevated oil prices.
“We’re in the golden age of America,” he told supporters.
The president acknowledged that fuel prices remained high but expressed confidence that they would decline.
“Our country is getting stronger and stronger all the time, and those pump prices are going to come down,” Trump said.
He also defended his tariff policies, claiming they were generating substantial government revenue, and repeated his pledge to give every adult American $5,000 if Republicans retained control of both chambers of Congress. The proposal would require an implementable funding arrangement and legislative backing.
Trump also attacked Democrats over immigration, accusing them of pursuing policies that would undermine border security. During the Georgia rally, he used derogatory language about several countries while questioning why the U.S. accepted immigrants from those nations instead of countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
The president had earlier voted in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday alongside First Lady Melania Trump before travelling to Georgia to campaign for Republican candidates.
Trump also defended his approach to the Iran conflict when questioned by reporters, saying the U.S. could either bring the military campaign to an end or reach an agreement with Tehran.
“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.
Obama’s campaign appearances also focused on Democratic efforts to win key contests in Ohio. He campaigned for former senator Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Republican Senator Jon Husted, and Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate seeking to defeat Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the state’s gubernatorial race.
The former president criticised an 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.
Acton, who also spoke at the rally, accused Ramaswamy of using her childhood to revive his 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 has added to tensions surrounding the Ohio governor’s race, with the candidates facing scrutiny over their campaign tactics as the election approaches.
The November 3 midterm elections will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate for the remainder of Trump’s term. The outcome will shape the administration’s ability to advance its legislative agenda and determine how effectively Democrats can challenge its policies.
Early voting is already underway, with Democrats seeking to mobilise voters around inflation, the cost of living, the Iran war and concerns about the administration’s conduct. Republicans, meanwhile, are campaigning on Trump’s trade and immigration policies and his promises of further economic gains.
The competing messages place the economy and the war in Iran among the issues likely to influence voters as both parties fight to secure congressional control.