In an unexpected move, former President Trump spoke positively about his White House predecessor, Barack Obama, calling him a “nice gentleman” before his rally in Michigan. This praise came as a surprise, considering Trump’s history of criticism and conspiracy theories against Obama.
When CNN’s Kristen Holmes asked Trump for his reaction to Obama’s upcoming speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Trump diverged from his usual criticism. He acknowledged Obama’s character, saying, “I like him. I think he’s a nice gentleman, but he was very, very weak on trade.” Trump criticized Obama’s trade policies, citing issues with Japan and China, but tempered his remarks with respect for Obama and his wife.
Trump’s rare civility towards Obama contrasts with his past attacks and conspiracy theories
This rare show of civility contrasted sharply with Trump’s past attacks, including his promotion of the “birther” conspiracy that falsely questioned Obama’s U.S. citizenship. As Trump praised Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama delivered a speech at the convention that sharply criticized Trump, particularly his recent comments about “Black jobs,” which elicited strong applause from the audience.
President Obama, following his wife, also targeted Trump, describing him as someone who is “afraid of losing to Kamala” and who exhibits a “weird obsession with crowd sizes.” He compared Trump’s constant complaints to a neighbor’s incessant leaf blower—annoying and dangerous.
The Obamas have endorsed Vice President Harris, who is currently leading Trump by 3 points in national polls.
