Former President Barack Obama received a thunderous welcome in Cleveland on Friday, as he campaigned for Ohio Democrats ahead of the midterm elections. The crowd’s energy was so intense that Obama had to pause his speech multiple times to ask supporters to settle down. “It is rocking in Cleveland right now,” he said, smiling. The event underscored the former president’s enduring star power within the Democratic Party and his role as a top surrogate in the final stretch of the campaign.
Obama’s speech was a mix of nostalgia, sharp criticism of the current administration, and a call to action for Ohio voters. He wasted little time in drawing a stark contrast between the promises made by President Donald Trump two years ago and the reality he said Americans are now facing. From rising costs to the war with Iran, Obama systematically dismantled what he called a “tally of broken promises.”
Setting the Stage: A Changed Political Landscape
Obama began by reminiscing about his first visit to Ohio as a candidate, noting that he “did not have a single gray hair” at the time. Now, after decades in public life, he said he can tell when an election “feels a little bit different.” According to Obama, 2026 is one of those elections. “People are so ready for something new, so hungry for something better, so sick and tired of being sick and tired that everywhere you go, it feels like change is in the air,” he said.
The former president framed the upcoming election as a chance to deliver a verdict on two years of what he described as “chaos and cruelty and corruption and incompetence, the likes of which we have not seen in modern times.” He urged supporters to vote early, emphasizing that the election is not just about rejecting the current administration but about affirming a better direction for the country.
Dismantling the Promises: The Economy and Iran
Obama’s core argument was that Trump’s policies have directly contributed to the economic pain felt by ordinary Americans. He acknowledged that presidents don’t control everything, but in this case, he said, “this administration’s actions are directly responsible for rising costs.” He pointed to the war with Iran as a prime example. “The original rationale was we’re going to go in there and get them to give up their nuclear program,” Obama explained. “But Iran didn’t have nuclear weapons because I had put a deal in place that everybody acknowledged kept them from getting nukes. I didn’t have to fire a missile to do it. I just had to engage in diplomacy.”
He criticized Trump for pulling out of the deal and starting a war that has now lasted seven months, resulting in attacked bases, American casualties, and a depleted missile stockpile. Most importantly, he argued, Iran now has veto power over the Strait of Hormuz, driving up oil and diesel prices and, by extension, the cost of just about everything. “This is the reason why the price of oil is up. Nobody disputes that,” Obama said.
Tariffs, Trade Wars, and a Do-Nothing Congress
Obama also took aim at Trump’s love of tariffs, warning that consumers ultimately pay the price. He noted that even American-made products often rely on imported parts, so tariffs cascade through the economy. “He was warned about that,” Obama said. “No, no, no. That’s not what’s going to happen. This is going to be great. Everything’s going to turn out great. No, that’s not what happened.”
He mocked the president’s trade war with Canada, calling Canadians “the nicest people” and joking about their maple syrup and Martin Short. Instead of reducing the deficit, Obama said, the tariffs have contributed to a $40 trillion debt. He also criticized the only major legislation passed in the last two years: a trillion-dollar tax break that “mostly benefited the richest Americans.”
On border security, Obama acknowledged the need for orderly enforcement but drew a line at the administration’s tactics. “I don’t recall anybody campaigning on sending masked agents running through our streets,” he said. “I don’t recall anybody talking about law-abiding citizens being arrested, detained, or shot. We did not ask for that.”
Corruption and Self-Enrichment: ‘Donald Who?’
Perhaps the most biting section of Obama’s speech focused on what he described as the president’s obsession with self-enrichment. He joked that Trump seems more focused on home renovations than on lowering costs. “He should be on HGTV,” Obama quipped. “He’s building a ballroom that’s bigger than the White House. It’s paved over the Rose Garden. Put a helicopter pad on the South Lawn. And there’s gold everywhere. What’s up with the gold? He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
Obama then turned serious, citing recent reports of a U.S. ambassador shaking down a donor and a Venezuelan billionaire who paid one of Trump’s personal lawyers $50 million before receiving a pardon. “We have never seen a president excel so wildly in just straight-up grifting on your dime,” he said. He noted that Trump has become billions of dollars wealthier while in office, and not a single Republican in Congress has done anything to stop it.
This led to the moment that gave the speech its headline. Obama described how Republican candidates, facing an unpopular president, are now pretending they’ve never heard of him. “Donald who?” Obama said, mimicking their feigned ignorance. “I’m sorry. Who?” The crowd erupted in laughter and applause. He accused Republicans of running the same tired ads accusing Democrats of being radicals and communists, and warned that voters won’t fall for it.
The Ohio Choice: Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton
Obama then pivoted to the state races, endorsing Senator Sherrod Brown for reelection and Amy Acton for governor. He praised Brown as someone who has always fought for working people, noting his humble style and long record. “He’s not looking out for the high and mighty,” Obama said. “He’s looking out for folks who are doing an honest day’s work and are still having trouble getting by.” He highlighted Brown’s plans to ban congressional stock trading, cap utility rate hikes, and lower drug prices.
As for Acton, Obama drew on her personal story of abuse, neglect, and homelessness to argue that she understands the struggles of ordinary Ohioans. He touted her plans to cut taxes for 775,000 families, make child care more affordable, forgive medical debt, and sign anti-corruption executive orders on day one. He also criticized her opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, for running an ad that Obama called beneath the dignity of public office. “There’s got to be something inside you where you just say, ‘No office is worth stooping that low,’” he said.
A Call to Action: ‘Vote for Change’
Obama closed by acknowledging the unsettling nature of the times, with rapid economic change, the rise of AI, and a housing shortage. But he expressed optimism that America can meet these challenges if it has the right leadership. “This election is our last best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness of this administration,” he said. “It’s the circuit breaker in the system. We need to flip that circuit breaker.”
He urged the crowd to show up for Democrats up and down the ballot, not just to oppose Trump but to demonstrate what real leadership looks like. “We can’t just be against this administration’s behavior,” he said. “We have to start showing them what a future on the other side of this administration can look like.” The crowd responded with chants and cheers, and Obama left the stage to thunderous applause, having delivered a speech that was part rallying cry, part stand-up comedy, and part pointed indictment of the current political order.
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