'I have a suite in Trump's head': Obama says Trump isn't focused on Americans

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Barack Obama questioned President Donald Trump's governing priorities, saying the president remains preoccupied with himself instead of focusing on the American people, while saying that he obviously has a room in his head, “a suite in his head."

The remarks revived Obama's public criticism of Trump after months of largely avoiding direct commentary. Rather than dwell on their long-running rivalry, Obama argued that Trump's continued focus on himself reflects misplaced priorities while in office.

Obama says Trump remains obsessed with himself

Obama made the comments during an appearance on the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast after being asked why the Trump administration remains "very fascinated" with him and how he deals with the "negativity and the racism" directed his way.

"You got to ask him what it is that... the obsession," Obama said. "I obviously have a room in his head, a suite in his head."

Podcast host Matt Barnes quickly replied, "Rent-free!" before telling Obama, "You do everything with grace."

Obama then contrasted Trump's approach with the way he viewed the presidency during his own administration.

"But the thing about it is that was always clear to me: look, first of all, when I was president, the last thing I had time to do was worry about what somebody said or what my predecessor did," Obama said. "They're gone. I've got work to do."

He added that a president should be occupied with difficult governing challenges rather than dwelling on predecessors.

Obama questions Trump's focus on governing

Expanding on that point, Obama argued that leading the country demands constant attention to pressing issues.

"If you're doing the job right, you've got five to 10 things that are real hard, and you have to be constantly focused," he said. "And the idea that I'd be worrying about somebody who came before and me trying to measure what he's done today."

He continued, "Look, constantly worrying about that is a strange thing to me. It shows me somebody who's not focused on the American people and the job they're supposed to do."

During another part of the interview, Obama also suggested Trump's private demeanor differs from the way he presents himself publicly.

"I believe in conversation. So if this — whoever you were talking about — was in front of me, which has happened a couple times, he doesn't talk like that because he knows better," Obama said.

White House fires back at Obama

The White House responded sharply to Obama's remarks.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said, "Barack Hussein Obama will go down as one of the most dishonest, divisive, and destructive Presidents in history."

Obama has acknowledged that he frequently considers responding more directly to Trump. In an interview with the New Yorker last month, he said he thinks about pushing back "every day" but ultimately chooses not to become what he described as a political commentator.

"For me to function like Jon Stewart, even once a week, just going off, just ripping what was happening, which, by the way, I'm glad Jon's doing it, then I'm not a political leader, I'm a commentator," Obama said.