Barack Obama delivered a striking critique of the current Trump administration during a recent speech.
The 44th President, a Democrat, spoke at a rally in Newark on Saturday, November 1, to endorse New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill.
With Election Day approaching, Sherrill holds only a slim lead over her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, according to recent polls.
During his passionate address, Obama appeared to break from his usual measured tone, describing the Trump administration’s policies as “worse than even I expected.”
“It’s not as if we didn’t see some of this coming,” Obama stated.
“I will admit, it’s even worse than I anticipated, but I war:ned you all. You can check the records. And, by the way, he wa:rned you too, because he told you what he would do.
“Still, many voted for Trump and other Republicans,” he continued,
“not because they wanted to give up free speech or dismantle public health systems, but because they were frustrated by inflation, rising gas prices, difficulty affording a home, and concerns about their children’s future.”
Obama further criticized the administration, highlighting national guard deployments in U.S. cities and ICE raids. “We’ve got a president sending the National Guard into cities, claiming to combat crime waves that don’t exist,” he said.
While campaigning in Norfolk, Virginia for Abigail Spanberger, Obama also m0cked Trump’s focus on White House renovations.
“The president has been prioritizing things like paving the Rose Garden to keep shoes clean, gold-plating the Oval Office, and constructing a $300 million ballroom,” Obama said. “So, Virginia, don’t worry about seeing a doctor – he’ll at least save you a dance.”
His remarks come as the federal government’s shutdown, which started October 1, enters its second month with no resolution in sight. Democrats are pressing to extend health insurance subsidies while the Trump administration continues budget disputes.
Obama’s comments also come amid the upcoming Election Day on November 4. Democrats are optimistic about Sherrill’s chances, citing a voter registration advantage of roughly 860,000. Suffolk University polling gives her a four-point lead, though a recent Emerson College poll shows a tighter race, with Sherrill ahead 49 percent to 48 percent.
Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, told Mirror US: “The question is whether Republicans can make enough gains to overcome this. Even nervous Democrats agree Republicans will need a very strong showing on Election Day to close a possible 250-275,000 vote gap.”
