Former President Barack Obama launched a blistering attack on Donald Trump, accusing him of corruption and failed leadership as Democrats battle for control of Congress.
DETROIT, Oct. 25, 2026 — Former US President Barack Obama delivered a scathing assessment of President Donald Trump’s administration on Saturday, accusing him of corruption, questionable foreign policy decisions, and misplaced priorities as Democrats intensified their campaign ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Speaking at campaign rallies in Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, Obama urged voters to hold the Republican administration accountable, calling the upcoming congressional elections a crucial chance to challenge Trump’s political influence.
With just 10 days remaining before Americans vote, the former president sought to energize Democratic supporters in closely contested races that could determine control of Congress.
Obama calls midterms a ‘circuit breaker’ against Trump
Campaigning in Detroit for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, Obama described the elections as a chance to restore political accountability.
“We got to flip that circuit breaker, bring some accountability to this government,” Obama told supporters.
The former president’s appearance comes as Democrats seek to defeat Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, a former US representative, in a closely watched Michigan contest.
Trump has repeatedly encouraged voters to treat the midterm elections as a referendum on his presidency, a message Obama turned against him during Saturday’s rallies.
Obama reserved some of his sharpest criticism for Trump’s business interests and what he characterized as the administration’s willingness to blur the boundaries between public office and private financial gain.
“We have never seen a president excel in straight-up grifting, on your dime, like this,” Obama said.
He also accused Republicans of abandoning traditional principles of government accountability in favor of protecting the president.
The criticism comes amid continuing questions about Trump’s family business interests, particularly their involvement in cryptocurrency.
An August Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 63% of Americans believed Trump and his family had inappropriately profited from cryptocurrency ventures since his return to the White House in 2025.
The same survey found that 69% believed the president’s policy decisions were influenced by his private business dealings.
The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Iran war and Strait of Hormuz become campaign targets
Obama also challenged the Trump administration’s claims of military and strategic success against Iran, arguing that the conflict had strengthened Tehran’s leverage over global energy markets.
“Iran now has veto power over the Strait of Hormuz, where oil goes through to get to the world,” Obama said.
His remarks highlighted concerns about the strategic waterway, through which a significant share of internationally traded oil passes.
According to Obama’s argument, Iranian threats against commercial shipping have unsettled energy exporters and increased Tehran’s ability to influence international oil markets.
The criticism places Trump’s Middle East strategy under renewed political scrutiny as American voters assess the administration’s foreign policy record.
Obama mocks Trump’s White House renovations
The former president also turned to humor, ridiculing Trump’s taste in White House renovations and questioning senior administration officials’ priorities.
In one of the rally’s most striking remarks, Obama joked that Trump had made the White House look like “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
He also sarcastically criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, suggesting the Pentagon chief was more concerned with military appearance and masculinity than with substantive national security challenges.
The comments highlighted Obama’s willingness to use sharp political satire alongside more serious accusations about governance and foreign policy.
Why the November 3 midterms matter
The November 3 elections will determine who controls Congress for the remainder of Trump’s second presidential term.
With both parties fighting for influence in Washington, even a small shift in congressional seats could reshape the administration’s ability to advance legislation, secure funding and withstand congressional investigations.
For Democrats, Obama’s return to the campaign trail offers an opportunity to mobilize younger voters, independents and traditional Democratic supporters.
His appearances in Michigan and Ohio also underline the importance of Midwestern battleground states, where closely contested races could influence the national balance of power.
The former president, who served from 2009 to 2017, remains an influential voice within the Democratic Party.
His latest intervention signals that Democrats intend to make Trump’s conduct, economic interests, and foreign policy central issues in the closing days of the campaign.
With the election approaching, Obama’s message was unmistakable: voters can place new checks on Trump’s presidency by shifting the balance of power in Washington.
Source: Reuters, reporting by Dan Catchpole, Oct. 25, 2026.
