Obama attacks President Trump at Ohio rally ahead of midterms

Former President Barack Obama used a campaign rally in Cleveland on Saturday to denounce President Donald Trump, calling him an "agent of chaos and cruelty" and accusing him of broken promises. Obama mocked the president’s focus on White House renovations, suggesting he seemed more interested in home-improvement shows than policy decisions. He also likened the White House’s appearance to a "Cheesecake Factory" opened by Saddam Hussein.

The event, held at a public auditorium that seats over 10,000, was intended to boost Democratic candidates for governor and Senate, including Amy Acton and former Senator Sherrod Brown. Ohio, a key battleground state, has seen both races described as toss-ups in recent polls.

"This midterm election victory runs through Ohio," said Rep. Shontel Brown, a Democrat whose district includes Cleveland.

Obama also condemned a television ad released by Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, which featured Acton’s estranged mother accusing her of lying. He described the ad as crossing a moral line and called the candidate "thirsty" and willing to do anything for attention.

Acton responded by denouncing the ad’s use of her personal history, while Brown warned that corruption is pervasive in Washington, linking Republican Sen. Jon Husted to billionaire interests.

Republican spokespeople criticized the Obama appearance, arguing that Ohio voters cannot afford a liberal governor who aligns with Obama and that the Brown-Obama partnership would raise taxes and reduce jobs.

Obama concluded by urging voters to assess Republican candidates against President Trump’s record, citing higher prices tied to tariffs and an "unnecessary war" with Iran. He framed the upcoming elections as an "inflection point" and a chance for a "course correction" after two years of what he described as chaos, cruelty, corruption, and incompetence.

The former president plans further campaign stops in Michigan and Georgia, and his office reports that he has helped raise more than $15 million for Democratic midterm races through various fundraising efforts.