Former US President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump held rival campaign rallies in Georgia and Ohio on Wednesday, trading criticism over the war in Iran, tariffs and the economy just five days before midterm elections.
asserted
Obama → hold → elections
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Obama said the Iran war has made Americans less safe
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Americans → matter → America
“The current president chose to make a series of bad decisions, the most important of which was to start an unnecessary war that nobody asked for and nobody voted for,” Obama said during a campaign rally in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Obama → choose → Atlanta
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, targeting Tehran as well as the country’s nuclear and military facilities, and killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking officials.
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States → launch → Khamenei
Tehran responded with attacks on US military assets across the region and closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
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Tehran → respond → supplies
Although a ceasefire was reached in April – and a memorandum of understanding was signed in June – both fell apart, while efforts to secure lasting peace have stalled over Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and the reopening of the strait.
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efforts → reach → strait
The US media has also reported that the US is low on weapons – particularly its Patriot missile interceptors.
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US → report → weapons
“We have run down our stock of missiles, making us more vulnerable.
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us → run → missiles
And Iran now has veto power over the Strait of Hormuz where much of the world’s oil goes through to get to consumers,” Obama told supporters.
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Obama → have → supporters
The price of just about everything is up,” he added.
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he → add → everything
“Contrary to the promises and statements and declarations that were made seven months ago, this war is not over.”
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war → make → promises
Obama took aim at Trump’s tariffs
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Obama → take → tariffs
Obama again criticised Trump’s trade tariffs, which he launched against global trading partners shortly after taking office in early 2025.
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he → criticise → 2025
Obama argued these have increased the cost of goods for American consumers rather than delivering the economic benefits promised by the administration.
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these → argue → administration
“Economists said when you impose tariffs, consumers pay the tab,” Obama said.
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Obama → say → tab
“And that’s exactly what happened.”
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what → ’ → ?
“Rather than having the tariffs bring down deficits like he said he would, we’re now running a debt to the tune of $40 trillion.”
In particular, he singled out Trump’s ongoing dispute with Canada, one of the US’s largest trading partners.
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he → have → partners
The two countries have been locked in a trade war, with Trump announcing 50 percent tariffs on Canadian vehicles and auto parts from January 2027.
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Trump → lock → January
Canada retaliated with its own matching tariffs as talks fell apart in August.
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talks → retaliate → August
“And the big trade war he’s waging now is that well-known evil empire, that historical adversary of the United States, Canada,” Obama said.
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Obama → wag → States
He also criticised Trump’s approach to US allies and Russia.
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He → criticise → allies
“While we’re alienating key allies like Canada, the White House is bending the knee to Vladimir Putin of Russia and selling out Ukrainians who are fighting for their freedom and democracy.”
Obama revisited his Cheesecake Factory joke
Obama again made fun of Trump’s White House renovations, saying the president appeared more concerned about a joke he made over the weekend than rising prices.
At an earlier rally, Obama had criticised Trump’s plans for a new ballroom, changes to the Rose Garden and the addition of gold decorations.
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Obama → alienate → decorations
“He seems very focused on home renovations.
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He → seem → renovations
He should be on HGTV,” Obama joked.
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Obama → joke → HGTV
“He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory, just gold everywhere.”
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Hussein → get → Factory
In Georgia, Obama returned to the joke.
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Obama → return → joke
That part didn’t bother him,” Obama said.
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Obama → bother → him
“But he was very upset about the Cheesecake Factory comments.”
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he → upset → comments
Obama joked that the White House had gone to great lengths to respond.
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House → joke → lengths
“They mobilised a whole-of-government response to that joke.
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They → mobilise → joke
He also talked about his own fondness for the restaurant chain.
“I lived at Chuck-E-Cheese and California Pizza Kitchen and the Cheesecake Factory.
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I → talk → Cheese
Returning to Trump’s renovations, Obama added: “He is literally doing arts and crafts while we are fighting a war and trying to deal with out-of-control prices.”
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we → return → prices
Obama invoked Martin Luther King Jr
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Obama → invoke → Jr
Obama closed his speech reflecting on American political culture, saying the country’s problems go beyond inflation, economic inequality and government policy.
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problems → close → inflation
“It’s not just about economics.
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It → ’ → economics
It’s not just about prices.
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It → ’ → prices
It’s about values,” he said.
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he → ’ → values
“There is a moral component to the choices we face right now.”
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we → be → choices
…and 54 more, not listed.
The Aporia
