Barack Obama and Donald Trump have traded a series of increasingly personal attacks as they campaigned in battleground states ahead of the US midterm elections, with the president launching an overnight online tirade against his predecessor.
The extraordinary confrontation unfolded as control of Congress hangs in the balance. Obama appeared at rallies in Ohio and Michigan, while Trump addressed Republican supporters in Georgia, where he sought to turn attention towards jobs and investment.
Trump’s response came shortly before 1am on Sunday, after Obama had mocked the president’s lavish White House renovations and accused him of using office to enrich himself, his family and political allies.
“Obama was a grossly incompetent President!” Trump declared in a post on Truth Social, accusing the former president of repeatedly backing candidates who went on to lose.
He cited Hillary Clinton’s defeat in 2016 and Kamala Harris’s loss in 2024, writing: “He said that Crooked Hillary Clinton was going to WIN, he campaigned hard for her, and she lost in all directions and ways. He then campaigned full out for Kamala, and likewise, she lost.”
Trump also attacked Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate Obama was supporting in Michigan. He made a series of inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims about Mr El-Sayed’s religion, political views and professional background, including calling him a “Fake Doctor” and alleging that he was a “Jihadist”.
Trump ended the post by endorsing Republican rival Mike Rogers and claiming that Michigan voters did not want an “arrogant, Open Borders, Fake Doctor”.
Obama attacks Trump’s White House renovations
Speaking in Cleveland, Obama ridiculed the gold decorations and construction projects associated with Trump’s White House, arguing that the president was concentrating on renovations while Americans faced rising living costs.
“He is very focused on home renovation. He should be on HGTV,” Obama told supporters.
He added: “What’s up with the gold? I mean, he’s got the one that’s looking like Saddam Hussein opened a cheesecake factory.”
Obama then accused Trump of enriching himself, his family and his allies through cryptocurrency ventures and government contracts involving businesses linked to his children.
“We have lost count of all the deals he and his family have done. You can’t keep up. Meme coins, taxpayer-funded contracts for his kids’ companies,” he said.
He also criticised Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying the administration was preoccupied with the appearance and masculinity of American troops rather than more pressing military concerns.
Obama’s remarks in Ohio included a broader attack on what he described as “cruelty and indecency” within the Republican campaign. He singled out Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over an advertisement featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival Amy Acton.
The advert features Donna Arthur calling her daughter “a liar” and insinuating that she has mental health issues. Ramaswamy has defended the decision to broadcast it, while Trump has also backed the campaign.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has called for the advert to be removed. Obama said there should be “a decency we should expect out of our public officials”, while Ms Acton accused her opponent of exploiting her childhood to support a struggling campaign.
At the rally, Obama also campaigned for former Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, who is seeking to unseat Republican Senator Jon Husted, and for Ms Acton.
Trump promotes investment at Georgia rally
At a rally in Perry, Georgia, Trump dismissed reports of a large crowd at Obama’s Detroit event, claiming: “The place was empty.”
He instead highlighted what he described as the economic benefits of his tariff policies, announcing a $4.2 billion investment by German carmaker Volkswagen in a new Audi manufacturing plant in Georgia.
“Think of that. 200,000 cars a year. That’s incredible,” Trump told supporters, claiming the project demonstrated that his approach was delivering investment and jobs despite criticism over persistently high consumer prices.
Georgia is a key battleground, with Republican candidate Mike Collins attempting to defeat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. Trump’s appearance was his second visit to the state in two weeks as Republicans sought to maintain control of the Senate.
The president’s combative campaigning drew mixed reactions from his supporters. One attendee said: “I love Trump to death, but sometimes he should keep his mouth shut,” while another welcomed the prospect of jobs coming to Georgia.
The exchanges between the two former and current presidents offered a glimpse of the increasingly bitter political contest as voters prepare to decide whether to retain Trump’s Republican allies in Congress and state governments.
