Obama rips Republicans, Trump during speech in Indiana


During a speech Wednesday in the manufacturing city of Elkhart, Indiana, President Obama staged what he called an "intervention" for Americans being misled by Republican policies and promises.
"Don't think this agenda is going to help you," he said. "It is not designed to help you." Republicans are pushing forward a message that's "anti-government, anti-immigrant, anti-trade, and let's face it, anti-change," he said, and he was ringing the alarm in Elkhart because "this county votes Republican." Obama also called out Republicans for criticizing regulations imposed on Wall Street. "Have we really forgotten what happened just eight years ago?" he asked. "Why would you do that? Less oversight on Wall Street would only make another crisis more likely."
The president said he was there to debunk "this myth of crazy, liberal government spending," noting that during his tenure the deficit has been lowered. He also said immigration reform is needed, but that deporting 11 million people is "a fantasy" that "wouldn't do anything to help the middle class," and said presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's tax plan "would explode our deficit by more than $10 trillion."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
5 suspiciously good cartoons about the Epstein files
Cartoons Artists take on the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
-
A glorious Greek island without the 'swank'
The Week Recommends Lesbos doesn't welcome 'hoards' of tourists, but is 'magnificent' and worth exploring
-
Norman Tebbit: fearsome politician who served as Thatcher's enforcer
In the Spotlight Former Conservative Party chair has died aged 94
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department