Former U.S. President Barack Obama on the 1st (local time) publicly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign stop supporting local elections.
According to U.S. political outlet The Hill and others, the former president appeared that day at campaign rallies for Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate former Rep. Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
At the Virginia rally, the former president said, "Our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now," and strongly criticized, "This White House is spewing lawlessness, recklessness, meanness, and just sheer madness every day."
He mentioned President Trump's tariff policy and the decision to deploy the National Guard to major U.S. cities. Aiming at Republican lawmakers as well, he noted that even though they know the president has crossed the line, they are not checking him.
The criticism of President Trump continued at the New Jersey rally. Obama said Trump is mobilizing the Justice Department to indict political rivals and is building a lavish banquet hall at the White House even as the federal government shutdown continues.
When boos erupted at the rally toward President Trump, President Obama said, "They don't hear boos. They hear votes," urging voters to pass judgment on the current administration in the local elections on the 4th.
In both areas, Democratic candidates currently hold an edge in polls. In Virginia, a YouGov poll conducted on the 17th to 28th of last month shows Spanberger leading with 55% support, outpacing Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by 14 percentage points.
In New Jersey as well, Sherrill is winning by a wide margin, with 51% support in the same poll, ahead of Republican candidate former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (42%).