Trump’s Sudden Shift on Obama: “I Like Him” Amid Harris’s Rising Poll Numbers
Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Twitter via Getty Images and Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images.
As Kamala Harris gains momentum in the 2024 presidential race, former President Donald Trump has made an unexpected change in his tone towards former President Barack Obama. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, just before Obama was set to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Trump offered surprising praise for his predecessor.
When asked about his view of Obama, Trump responded, “I like him. I think he’s a nice gentleman, but he was very, very weak on trade.” He continued, “If you take a look at what happened to our country trade-wise, it was a disaster. Take a look at Japan, take a look at China, take a look at what happened with some of these countries, what they did.”
Despite these critiques, Trump reiterated his newfound respect for Obama and his family. “But I happen to like him. I respect him, and I respect his wife,” Trump added, a stark contrast to his previous rhetoric. This sudden shift in Trump’s stance raised eyebrows, particularly given his long history of attacks on Obama.
CNN political analyst John King expressed skepticism about Trump’s sincerity, recalling how Trump had previously used racially charged language to question Obama’s legitimacy. “He has, at some of his rallies, used Barack Obama’s middle name, Barack Hussein Obama,” King noted, referring to Trump’s promotion of the birther conspiracy that questioned whether Obama was born in the U.S. and qualified to be president.
King suggested that Trump’s change in tone might be more strategic than genuine. “What does that tell me?” King asked rhetorically. “It tells me that Donald Trump, who occasionally listens to his political advisors and has very smart political advisors, has been told, guess what, sir, you’re losing.”
According to King, Trump’s advisors likely warned him that his confrontational style was alienating key voter groups. “You’re losing because people think you’re unhinged. You’re losing because not only Black voters, but people in the suburbs don’t like your tone,” King explained.
As Harris continues to improve her standing in the polls, Trump’s sudden shift in his opinion of Obama appears to be part of a broader attempt to appeal to a wider electorate. Whether this new approach will resonate with voters remains to be seen, but it marks a notable departure from Trump’s usual rhetoric.
