On Tuesday, Donald Trump shared some surprisingly positive remarks about former President Barack Obama while speaking with CNN in Detroit. Ahead of Obama’s address at the Democratic National Convention, Trump referred to him as a “nice gentleman,” although he maintained that he believes Obama lacked strength in trade issues.
“Take a look at Japan, take a look at China, and what they did,” Trump told CNN’s Kristen Holmes. He expressed his personal affection for Obama, adding, “But I happen to like him. I respect him and I respect his wife.”
“I respect him and I respect his wife” — oddly soft comments from Trump to CNN today on Obama, who he viciously defamed to fuel his political rise pic.twitter.com/7ExpvrJNVt
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 20, 2024
Both Barack and Michelle Obama are scheduled to address the DNC in Chicago that night. Trump’s comments this time were notably less harsh compared to previous criticisms he had levied against Obama.
Trump’s Past Comments on Obama
In 2011, Trump was one of the prominent figures questioning Obama’s citizenship, famously insisting, “I want him to show his birth certificate.” Despite the White House eventually releasing Obama’s long-form birth certificate, Trump continued to push the “birther” narrative for over a year, claiming he had an “extremely credible source” suggesting the birth certificate was a fraud.
Harsh Criticisms During Campaigns
As the 2016 election approached, Trump labeled Obama as possibly the “worst president in history,” characterizing his presidency as a “disaster” and pointing out what he perceived to be weaknesses in Obama’s leadership.
Controversial Statements
Trump also went as far as to claim that Obama was involved in creating ISIS, stating during a rally, “He’s the founder of ISIS.” This comment drew significant criticism, reflecting his habit of making incendiary statements about Obama.
Conspiracy Theories
Fast forward to late 2023, Trump insinuated that Obama was the true power behind the White House, labeling him “Biden’s boss” at a campaign event, referencing a light-hearted 2020 quip from Obama about wanting a stand-in during his presidency.
A Rare Moment of Positivity
Nic Antaya/Ethan Miller/Getty Images
After winning the presidency in 2016, Trump met Obama in a brief, tense encounter at the White House. Nonetheless, he later remarked that he was getting along well with Obama, mentioning that they shared a smile over a couple of statements made previously. Obama even left a note for Trump in the Oval Office, which Trump stated he would “cherish.”