Former President Barack Obama has been publicly criticizing former President Donald Trump in recent campaign-related appearances, portraying Trump as governing with “lawlessness, recklessness, meanness, and sheer absurdity,” and urging voters to push back in key races. Details of the most recent remarks

• Obama delivered sharp critique of Trump during rallies supporting Democratic gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. He framed the current political moment as grim and pointed to what he described as Biden Administration failures in contrast to Trump’s approach (as of late October–early November 2025).

• In several appearances, he accused Trump of chaotic policy moves, including tariffs, and highlighted concerns about the administration’s handling of governance and accountability. He urged Democrats to mobilize and reminded audiences of democratic norms and the dangers he associates with Trump’s leadership style.

• Coverage also noted Obama’s broader strategy to actively campaign and rally public opposition to Trump’s candidacy, signaling an unusually combative stance for him in recent years as part of a broader movement within the party to energize voters ahead of state-level contests.

Context and tone

• The remarks fit a pattern of Obama stepping into the political fray more directly during this period, using exhortations about protecting democratic norms and criticizing what he characterizes as Trump’s “lawlessness” to galvanize Democratic voters in Virginia and New Jersey.

• Various outlets reported the speeches were delivered while Obama was campaigning for Spanberger (VA) and Sherrill (NJ), with contemporaneous media coverage noting the heightened intensity of his remarks and the potential impact on down-ballot races.

If you’d like, I can summarize exact quotes from these remarks or pull direct snippets from the latest coverage to provide precise wording and attribution.