On campaign trail, Obama says Trump’s White House ‘looks like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory’

Former US president Barack Obama (centre), Democratic candidate for US Senate in Michigan Abdul El-Sayed (left), and Democratic candidate for Michigan governor Jocelyn Benson (right) raise joined hands as they campaign together with other Michigan Democrats at a rally in Detroit, Michigan on October 24, 2026. — AFP pic

First Published: Sunday, 25 Oct 2026 8:37 AM MYT

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 — -Former US president Barack Obama delivered scathing criticisms of his successor, Donald Trump, at rallies Saturday in Ohio and Michigan to support Democratic candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Democrats are attempting to wrest back control of one or both chambers of the US Congress, which are currently controlled by Trump’s Republican party.

The former president retains considerable popularity among the Democratic base, which he is keen to leverage to support his Democratic Party’s candidates.

In both states, the 65-year-old former president blamed the Trump administration for the rising cost of living, a top voter concern amid soaring fuel prices.

“The current president chose to make a series of bad decisions,” Obama said in Ohio, where he rallied in support of former Democratic senator Sherrod Brown.

“Most importantly, he decided to start an unnecessary war that nobody asked for.”

“After two years of chaos and cruelty and corruption and incompetence, the likes of which we have not seen in the modern era, you get a chance to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” Obama declared in Cleveland. “We are voting for change right here in Ohio.”

Later, in Michigan, Obama campaigned for Abdul El-Sayed, from the party’s left wing, who is in a close race with Republican Mike Rogers for the US Senate.

“Imagine the power duo of Abdul and Elissa,” Obama said, referring to the incumbent Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin, who is not up for election this year.

“You got a Muslim man, you got a Jewish woman fighting for you in the United States Senate. That’s something, Michigan, you can be proud of.”

Obama also urged voters to cast their ballots as soon as possible since early voting is already open in both states.

“Don’t procrastinate, don’t equivocate,” Obama said.

In Ohio, Brown will attempt a comeback against incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted, while the race for governor will be contested between Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate in 2024.

Polls for Ohio give Democrats a slight lead in both those races, but the results are expected to be close.

Obama also took digs at Trump’s renovation projects across the US capital, including his botched renovation of the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool, his construction of a massive White House Ballroom and the guilded decorations he has adorned the Oval Office with during his second tenure.

“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” Obama said, referring to popular but indulgent American restaurant chain.

Nationally, polls also suggest that Democrats could regain control of the House of Representatives but face a much more competitive contest for the Senate. — AFP