Washington D.C. – Former Presidentโ Barackโฃ Obamaโ delivered a โscathing critique of the Trump management during campaign โขappearances for Democratic candidates in Virginia and New Jersey on November 2nd and โ3rd, 2025. โฃObama characterized the current state โof the โฃU.S.as “darkโ times,” leveling accusations of lawlessness, recklessness,โข and cruelty against President โขTrump’s policies.
Obama specifically targeted Trump’s economic and security approaches, criticizing theโค implementation โฃof tariff policies as “chaotic” andโฃ questioning the deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities. He lamented what he perceived as a failure by Republican lawmakers to hold Trump accountable,even when aware of perceived overreach.
“Frankly, our country and our โขpolicies are in some prettyโ dark times right now,” Obama stated while โขcampaigning for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill at Oldโ Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. “It’s โขdifficult where to start. Because every day,this White House presents the people with a new packageโ of lawless acts,recklessness,cruelty and downright madness.”
The former president also drew a pointed analogy, stating, “It’s like every day is Halloween, but it’s all gimmicks, with nothing fun.” He further criticized Trump’s priorities, referencing renovations to the White House, including resurfacing the โคRose Garden courtyard with asphalt and the construction โof a $300 million ballroom, โคeven during aโค federal goverment shutdown. Obama expressed shock at the willingness of business โleaders, lawโข firms, and universities to accommodateโข the Trump administration.