Former President Barack Obama didn’t hold back as he spoke to a lively crowd in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known for his powerful speeches, Obama took the opportunity to set the record straight about the economy he handed over to his successor, Donald Trump, and to remind voters of the work he did during his two terms in the White House.
As the crowd cheered, Obama addressed a familiar rally habit—booing. “Don’t boo,” he urged, with a smile. “I’m going to break you of this habit.” But then he quickly pivoted to the real message of the day, taking a jab at the GOP’s claims about the economy during Trump’s early days in office.
Some people, he noted, have a short memory when it comes to the economic recovery. “They think, wow, I remember that economy when he first came in being pretty good,” Obama said, nodding to the crowd. “Yeah, it was pretty good, because it was my economy.” He reminded the audience that his administration handed over an economy that had experienced 75 consecutive months of job growth—something he was proud to pass on.
Obama’s words were a direct response to Republican narratives that often credit Trump with an economic boom early in his presidency. But as Obama pointed out, “It wasn’t something he did.” He highlighted the work his administration had to do to dig the country out of a deep recession—a recession he attributed to the policies of the previous Republican administration under George W. Bush.
“I spent eight years cleaning up the mess that the Republicans had left me the last time,” he added, emphasizing the challenges his team faced. Obama pointed out that Trump’s primary economic contribution was a series of tax cuts that disproportionately benefited the wealthy, rather than building on the strong foundation he had worked hard to establish.
Obama’s remarks in Pittsburgh are part of a larger effort to energize Democratic voters ahead of the upcoming elections. By reminding the crowd of his administration’s achievements, he aimed to reinforce the Democratic Party’s message that it is the party of economic responsibility and long-term growth.
As the rally concluded, Obama left his supporters with a clear message: when it comes to the economy, results matter, and it’s important to remember who delivered them. With midterm elections approaching, his words resonated with a crowd eager to make their voices heard at the polls.
