Obama's final-week rallies for Democrats draw Trump's fire and cheers from the party's base

Former President Barack Obama has spent the closing days of the midterm campaign giving blistering speeches for Democratic candidates in key races, The Guardian reports. The party has turned to him with days to go before an election that will decide control of Congress for the rest of Donald Trump's second term ¹.

Obama, 65, told a crowd in suburban Atlanta that the vote is the party's best shot at checking the president. He called it the "circuit-breaker in the system" and said Democrats need to flip it ¹.

On tapeWHAS11 · Oct 29

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This election is our last, best chance of at least reining him in, reining in some of the foolishness of this administration

A joke that got Trump's attention

At a rally in Cleveland, Obama said Trump's gold-trimmed White House renovations made the building look as if "Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory" ¹. Trump replied by mimicking a lettuce leaf and accusing Obama of snobbery. He also claimed Obama had left the White House "deteriorated" ¹.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent staged a photo-op outside a Cheesecake Factory in Washington, where he ordered a cheeseburger ¹. In Atlanta, Obama said the response showed Republicans lack answers on prices ¹.

From Channel GOPEl-Sayed answers Trump mangling his nameAbdul El-Sayed · 148 plays · captioned, with the source named

They mobilised a whole-of-government response to a joke, not to inflation, but to a joke.

David Litt, a former Obama White House speechwriter, said Obama can still help in close races, "especially among young voters and Black voters" ¹. Litt also said Obama knows how to draw attention, which is hard to do these days ¹.

Michigan and beyond

In Detroit, Obama campaigned for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has criticized parts of the Obama presidency. Obama joked about it, saying even Michelle Obama does not agree with everything he does ¹.

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El-Sayed won the August Democratic primary over Rep. Haley Stevens by less than one point. He now faces Republican Mike Rogers, and the seat could help decide Senate control ². Obama also recorded about two dozen ads for Democratic Senate and governor candidates and had campaigned in Texas with Senate candidate James Talarico and governor candidate Gina Hinojosa ².

Not every progressive is a fan. Norman Solomon of the group RootsAction criticized Obama's record on Palestine, Afghanistan and wealth, though he said Obama's tactical value this year is "undeniable" ¹. Joseph Geevarghese of Our Revolution said Obama's campaigning is a net positive because it helps reach African American voters ¹.

What happens next

Voters go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3. The Guardian says strategists made a calculated choice to hold Obama back until the final stretch. That let newer candidates build their own identities first ¹.

That matters because turnout often decides close races. Obama's pull with younger and Black voters is the kind of boost a candidate in a tight contest wants. Whether the late push is enough will show up in Tuesday's results.

The Record

1. Aug 1, 2026Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary over Rep. Haley Stevens by less than one point (August primary; exact date not given) ².
2. Oct 24, 2026Obama campaigned with El-Sayed at a rally in Detroit ².
3. Nov 3, 2026Midterm elections will decide control of Congress for the rest of Trump's second term ¹.

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<h2>Obama&#39;s final-week rallies for Democrats draw Trump&#39;s fire and cheers from the party&#39;s base</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/obama-s-final-week-rallies-for-democrats-draw-trump-s-fire-and-cheers-from-the-party">The GOP Files</a> on Sunday, November 1, 2026.</em></p> <p>Former President Barack Obama has spent the closing days of the midterm campaign giving blistering speeches for Democratic candidates in key races, The Guardian reports. The party has turned to him with days to go before an election that will decide control of Congress for the rest of Donald Trump&#39;s second term .</p> <p>Obama, 65, told a crowd in suburban Atlanta that the vote is the party&#39;s best shot at checking the president. He called it the &quot;circuit-breaker in the system&quot; and said Democrats need to flip it .</p> <blockquote><p>This election is our last, best chance of at least reining him in, reining in some of the foolishness of this administration</p><p>&mdash; Barack Obama, former president, Democrat</p></blockquote> <h2>A joke that got Trump&#39;s attention</h2> <p>At a rally in Cleveland, Obama said Trump&#39;s gold-trimmed White House renovations made the building look as if &quot;Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory&quot; . Trump replied by mimicking a lettuce leaf and accusing Obama of snobbery. He also claimed Obama had left the White House &quot;deteriorated&quot; .</p> <p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent staged a photo-op outside a Cheesecake Factory in Washington, where he ordered a cheeseburger . In Atlanta, Obama said the response showed Republicans lack answers on prices .</p> <blockquote><p>They mobilised a whole-of-government response to a joke, not to inflation, but to a joke.</p><p>&mdash; Barack Obama, former president, Democrat</p></blockquote> <p>David Litt, a former Obama White House speechwriter, said Obama can still help in close races, &quot;especially among young voters and Black voters&quot; . Litt also said Obama knows how to draw attention, which is hard to do these days .</p> <h2>Michigan and beyond</h2> <p>In Detroit, Obama campaigned for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who has criticized parts of the Obama presidency. Obama joked about it, saying even Michelle Obama does not agree with everything he does .</p> <p>El-Sayed won the August Democratic primary over Rep. Haley Stevens by less than one point. He now faces Republican Mike Rogers, and the seat could help decide Senate control . Obama also recorded about two dozen ads for Democratic Senate and governor candidates and had campaigned in Texas with Senate candidate James Talarico and governor candidate Gina Hinojosa .</p> <p>Not every progressive is a fan. Norman Solomon of the group RootsAction criticized Obama&#39;s record on Palestine, Afghanistan and wealth, though he said Obama&#39;s tactical value this year is &quot;undeniable&quot; . Joseph Geevarghese of Our Revolution said Obama&#39;s campaigning is a net positive because it helps reach African American voters .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Voters go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3. The Guardian says strategists made a calculated choice to hold Obama back until the final stretch. That let newer candidates build their own identities first .</p> <p>That matters because turnout often decides close races. Obama&#39;s pull with younger and Black voters is the kind of boost a candidate in a tight contest wants. Whether the late push is enough will show up in Tuesday&#39;s results.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/obama-s-final-week-rallies-for-democrats-draw-trump-s-fire-and-cheers-from-the-party">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/obama-s-final-week-rallies-for-democrats-draw-trump-s-fire-and-cheers-from-the-party.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Guardian, “'He's a force': Obama answers call to boost Democrats – and rattle Trump” (2026-11-01). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/01/barack-obama-midterms-de
2. AP via Scripps News, “Obama is set to get more involved in the midterms, starting with an appearance alongside Abdul El-Sayed” (2026-10-24). scrippsnews.com/politics/midterm-elections/obama-is-set-to-g

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