'Grossly Incompetent': Trump hits back at Obama after 'Saddam Hussein' White House jab
WASHINGTON, DC: WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump reignited his long-running feud with Barack Obama, unleashing a fresh barrage of criticism against the former president after he took aim at him on the midterm campaign trail.
The 80-year-old president called Obama a "grossly incompetent President" while attacking his Iran nuclear deal and his support for Democratic candidates. His remarks followed Obama's criticism of Trump's war with Iran and his White House renovation projects, which the former president mocked by comparing the building's appearance to "Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."
Trump accuses Obama of paying billions to Iran
Launching a late-night social media tirade, Trump took to Truth Social to denounce Obama as a "grossly incompetent President," accusing him of paying Iran billions of dollars and giving the country a path to developing nuclear weapons.
Trump: Obama was a grossly incompetent President! He paid off Iran with $Billions, and gave them a road to a Nuclear Weapon. He said that Crooked Hillary Clinton was going to WIN, he campaigned hard for her, and she lost in all directions and ways. He then campaigned full out for Kamala, and likewise, she lost. Now he’s campaigning for a Muslim Brotherhood Jihadist, who hates Jews and Blacks and AMERICANS and TRUMP, and he is going to lose, also. He’s a Fake Doctor, who runs what is considered to be the WORST CLINIC IN AMERICA. Michigan doesn’t want an arrogant, Open Borders, Fake Doctor, Jihadist, whose reputation will only get worse as more information is revealed - And there’s plenty. VOTE FOR MIKE ROGERS! He will never let you down!
— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 25, 2026
Trump then mocked Obama's record on the campaign trail, pointing to his support for former Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, both of whom lost their presidential bids.
He also targeted Obama for campaigning for Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, using inflammatory language to attack the candidate's political positions and medical background.
Trump called El-Sayed a "Muslim Brotherhood Ji***ist, who hates Jews and Blacks and AMERICANS and TRUMP, and he is going to lose, also."
"He's a Fake Doctor, who runs what is considered to be the WORST CLINIC IN AMERICA," he continued.
El-Sayed's criticism of the Israeli government has alienated some Jewish voters in Michigan, while he has also faced challenges in securing support among Black voters in the state.
Trump further attacked the Democratic candidate as an "arrogant, Open Borders, Fake Doctor, Jihadist," claiming that more damaging information about him would emerge. He urged Michigan voters to support Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers instead.
Obama calls Trump an agent of chaos and cruelty
Trump's latest criticism followed Obama's first midterm campaign rally in Cleveland, Ohio, where the former president portrayed Trump's administration as one defined by "chaos and cruelty."
Obama campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, criticizing the administration's policies and its handling of the war with Iran.
During the rally, Obama also took aim at the administration's handling of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
"You remember that old thing about 'drain the swamp'?" Obama asked the crowd. "The only thing that got drained was the Reflecting Pool in the National Mall after some no-bid contract got it all messed up."
“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened up a Cheesecake Factory” — Obama https://t.co/3fH8IQP1MG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 24, 2026
Obama also appeared to draw parallels between attacks against El-Sayed and the criticism he faced from Trump over the years, including Trump's claims questioning Obama's birthplace.
"Whenever a movement builds to challenge that broken system, the people who benefit from the status quo will say and do anything to stop that train from coming," he said. "They will use lies and they will use fear and they will use division. And they may even use your name to suggest that you are dangerous and less than trustworthy and less patriotic and less American than they are."
Obama mocks Trump's White House renovations with Saddam Hussein jab
Obama then turned his attention to Trump's White House renovations, arguing that the president appeared more focused on home improvement projects than on issues affecting Americans.
"He seems very focused on home renovations. He should be on HGTV," Obama said.
He also questioned Trump's use of gold decor throughout the White House before delivering the jab that drew attention online.
"What's with the gold? … He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory," Obama said.
The remark was part of Obama's broader criticism of Trump's priorities during the campaign rally, as he urged voters to hold the administration accountable in the upcoming midterm elections.
Trump's response brought the two presidents' long-running political rivalry back into focus, with their latest exchange centering on the Iran conflict, White House renovations and the battle for support ahead of the November midterm elections.
