Obama Slams Trump Over Iran War, Accuses His Administration of Corruption

Political Desk: Former US President Barack Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates on Saturday, delivering a blistering critique of Donald Trump's administration and its record ahead of the US midterm elections.

With just 10 days remaining before the November elections, the outcome could determine control of Congress, where the balance of power remains tight. Obama has returned to the campaign trail to rally Democratic supporters and challenge the policies of the Republican president.

Speaking in Cleveland and Detroit, Obama described the November election as a circuit breaker capable of restraining at least some of the Trump administration's actions.

"We've got to flip that circuit breaker and hold this administration accountable," Obama said.

Obama served as president from 2009 until Trump's first inauguration in 2017 and remains one of the Democratic Party's most prominent figures. Democrats hope his campaign appearances will energize voters ahead of closely contested Senate races.

In Michigan, Obama campaigned for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who is facing former Republican Representative Mike Rogers.

Obama Accuses Trump of Corruption and Personal Profit

During his speech in Detroit, Obama repeated Democrats' criticism of Trump and the Republican Party, accusing the administration of corruption, incompetence and using public office for private gain.

"We have never seen a president so openly use his position to enrich himself at the expense of the American people," Obama said.

He also accused Trump of selling access and political influence, adding that no previous president had been so determined to trade political favors for personal benefit.

Obama went on to criticize the Republican Party, arguing that it appeared willing to support a government he described as corrupt and incompetent—or even one that failed to govern effectively.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll published in August also found that substantial portions of the American public were concerned about the financial interests of Trump and his family, as well as the potential influence of his private business dealings on presidential decisions.

According to the poll, 63% of Americans believed Trump and his family had improperly profited from cryptocurrency-related ventures since his return to the White House the previous year. Meanwhile, 69% said they believed his political decisions were influenced by his personal business dealings.

These figures reflect respondents' views and do not, by themselves, establish that wrongdoing occurred.

Obama Says Iran Has Gained Economic Leverage Through the Strait of Hormuz

One of the central themes of Obama's attack was Trump's strategy toward Iran and his administration's claims of victory in the war.

The former president argued that the conflict had failed to deliver the outcomes Trump had promised and had instead given Tehran greater economic leverage through its threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Iran now has a veto over the Strait of Hormuz, the route through which oil travels to reach world markets," Obama said.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important energy chokepoints, carrying a substantial share of global oil trade. Any threat to commercial shipping through the waterway can raise concerns about supply disruptions, increase tanker insurance and transportation costs, and intensify volatility in energy markets.

Obama's remarks came as US stocks fell during Friday's trading session, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping more than 1%.

His criticism challenges the Trump administration's approach to Iran by arguing that threats involving the Strait of Hormuz have given Tehran the ability to influence oil exports and, consequently, the global economy.

The comments also highlight how foreign policy and the economic consequences of war could become major issues in the political battle ahead of the US midterm elections.

Obama Mocks Defense Secretary Hegseth and Trump's White House Renovations

In another part of his speech, Obama accused the Trump administration of focusing on superficial issues instead of addressing the country's more pressing challenges.

He took a sarcastic swipe at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, portraying him as excessively preoccupied with matters such as the jawlines and testosterone levels of military personnel.

The remark was a jab at the administration's emphasis on physical appearance, fitness and traditionally masculine traits within the armed forces.

Obama also criticized the renovations and design changes at the White House, describing the new look as gaudy and lacking in taste.

In one of the sharpest lines of his speech, he said Trump had made the White House look like a place that might exist if Saddam Hussein had opened a Cheesecake Factory franchise.

The comparison mocked what Obama portrayed as an excessively lavish aesthetic, invoking the former Iraqi dictator to ridicule the president's taste in interior design.