Barack Obama has sharply criticized Donald Trump, asserting that Americans are moving beyond a "politics that divides them." The former president made these remarks following the Democratic victories in the recent midterm elections, which saw Democrats secure control of both the House and the Senate.
Obama stated that the election results sent a "clear message" to the White House, emphasizing that the American people "want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them." He praised the winning candidates for being "united by shared values, a belief in public service, and a commitment to putting the people of their districts and states first."
"While this administration has another two years in office, our job now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes wherever we have the power to do so, prevent further damage, and lay the groundwork for the future," Obama added.
During the campaign, Obama had engaged in a notable public exchange with Trump over the aesthetics of the White House. Obama jested that Trump had made the White House "look like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," a comment referencing the president's preference for gold decor. Trump responded by defending the renovations and the restaurant chain, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joining the discussion.
The midterm outcomes represented a significant setback for Trump, as Democrats flipped six Senate seats and at least a dozen Republican-held House districts. Key victories included Democrat James Talarico defeating Trump-backed Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas, and Democrats securing Senate seats in Kansas and South Carolina, breaking long-standing Republican streaks in those states. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas was defeated by Democrat Gina Hinojosa, and Vivek Ramaswamy lost his bid to lead Ohio. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms made history as the first Black woman elected governor in the US.
Despite these losses, Republicans retained governorships in Florida, where Byron Donalds defeated David Jolly, and Senator Ashley Moody held her seat. Trump, however, sought to distance himself from the broader Republican losses, stating on Truth Social, "I wasn't on the ballot, and if I was, we would have won in a landslide."