Brief

Obama blames Trump’s Iran war for higher fuel prices at Ohio and Michigan rallies

Speaking in Cleveland and Detroit, Obama linked the war to higher energy costs and urged voters to reject Republicans.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:18:26 GMT

Former President Barack Obama addressed crowds in Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday, October 25, warning that President Donald Trump’s decision to start an "unnecessary war" against Iran has pushed up oil and diesel prices. Obama made the remarks at rallies supporting Democratic candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

What happened

At the Ohio rally, Obama said the current president "chose to make a series of bad decisions" and "started an unnecessary war that nobody asked for." He linked the conflict to attacks on U.S. bases, American casualties, and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which he said has caused global fuel prices to rise. In Michigan, he repeated the criticism, defending the 2015 nuclear agreement that limited Tehran’s nuclear programme and accusing Trump of pulling out of the deal and igniting the war.

What the reports add

Al Jazeera noted that Obama also mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a Pentagon plan to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, calling the officials involved "not serious people." The outlet highlighted that Obama blamed the war for the spike in diesel and petrol prices, suggesting the economic impact could hurt the Republican Party because many voters hold Trump responsible for the conflict.

What was said

"The current president chose to make a series of bad decisions," Obama told the Cleveland crowd, according to Al Jazeera. He added, "Most importantly, he decided to start an unnecessary war that nobody asked for." He also said, "Iran didn’t have nuclear weapons because I had put a deal in place… I didn’t have to fire a missile to do it. I just had to engage in diplomacy." On the economic front, Obama claimed, "This is the reason why the price of oil is up … This is the reason the price of diesel is up." He also said, "These are not serious people," referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

How it came about

The speeches came ten days before the November 3 midterms, where Senate and gubernatorial races are pending in both Ohio and Michigan. Obama’s criticism of the Iran war echoes earlier analysis in Felo’s coverage of the conflict’s impact on the U.S. election, including the September 30 article on Iran’s war escalation before the midterms and the October 16 piece on Iran’s cost‑of‑war messaging aimed at American voters.

Key facts

Obama said President Trump started an "unnecessary war" against Iran. (aljazeera.com)
Obama linked the Iran war to rising oil and diesel prices. (aljazeera.com)
The speeches were delivered on October 25, 2026, ahead of the November 3 midterms. (aljazeera.com)
Obama defended the 2015 nuclear agreement that limited Iran's nuclear programme. (aljazeera.com)
He mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a plan to livestream Nidal Hasan's execution. (aljazeera.com)