{"id":2505591,"date":"2025-11-01T17:48:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T21:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-blasts-trump-while-campaigning-in-virginia-for-spanberger\/"},"modified":"2025-11-01T17:50:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T21:50:25","slug":"obama-blasts-trump-while-campaigning-in-virginia-for-spanberger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-blasts-trump-while-campaigning-in-virginia-for-spanberger\/","title":{"rendered":"Obama blasts Trump while campaigning in Virginia for Spanberger"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fobama-blasts-trump-while-campaigning-in-virginia-for-spanberger%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2505591&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former President Barack Obama held a get-out-the-vote event in Norfolk, Virginia, supporting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/youtube-censors-ohio-attorney-for-saying-covid-not-deadlier-than-flu\/\" title=\"YouTube censors Ohio attorney for saying COVID not deadlier than flu\">democratic gubernatorial candidate<\/a> Abigail Spanberger. During his speech, Obama criticized President Donald Trump, accusing him of undermining American democracy by using the Justice Department against political opponents and weakening democratic norms. Obama emphasized the importance of voting, especially as early voting was ending in Virginia, encouraging attendees not just to protest but to turn out at the polls. He highlighted concerns about Trump&#8217;s use of the National Guard in Democratic-led cities and warned about the erosion of democratic institutions. The event was part of a broader Democratic effort to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/below-average-joe-barely-anyone-showed-up-to-bidens-labor-day-speech\/\" title=\"Below Average Joe: Barely Anyone Showed Up to Biden&#039;s Labor ... ...\">gain momentum ahead<\/a> of the 2026 midterm elections, with Obama also campaigning later in New Jersey. Spanberger, supported by Obama, is aiming to flip the Virginia governor&#8217;s office blue after Republican Glenn Youngkin&#8217;s 2021 win. young voters and attendees expressed enthusiasm for Obama&#8217;s appearance and Spanberger&#8217;s campaign, underscoring the rally&#8217;s focus on voter turnout in a critical election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Obama takes aim at Trump in Virginia get-out-the-vote event for Spanberger<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2387247\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>NORFOLK, Virginia &mdash;<\/strong> Former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\">Barack Obama<\/a> lambasted his successor, President Donald Trump, on Saturday as part of his appeal to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/malaysia-announces-tighter-2023-budget-as-it-warns-of-slowing-growth-2\/\" title=\"Malaysia announces tighter 2023 budget as it warns of slowing growth\">boost voter support<\/a> for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a>, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got a president who thinks it&rsquo;s OK to use the Justice Department to go after his political opponents,&rdquo; Obama said at the Ted Constant Convocation Center as the audience jeered.<strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3871735\/jersey-citys-democrat-mayor-sounds-alarm-about-upset-in-garden-state-governor-election\/\">Jersey City&#8217;s Democrat mayor sounds alarm about &#8216;upset&#8217; in Garden State governor election<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3871653\/mikie-sherrill-food-donations-obama-rally-snap-benefits-freeze\/\">Mikie Sherrill collects food donations at Obama rally amid SNAP benefits freeze<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3870992\/proposition-50-fierce-campaigning-pivotal-vote\/\">Proposition 50 sparks fierce campaigning ahead of pivotal vote<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t boo, vote,&rdquo; Obama quipped, referencing his usual get-out-the-vote phrase on the same day that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-than-800000-tennesseans-have-cast-their-ballot-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"More than 800,000 Tennesseans have cast their ballot ... ...\">early voting ends<\/a> in Virginia. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got a commander-in-chief who fires decorated officers because he thinks they might be more loyal to the Constitution than to him,&rdquo; Obama continued. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s like every day is Halloween, except it&rsquo;s all tricks and no treats. And here&rsquo;s the thing, it is not as if we didn&rsquo;t see some of this coming. I will admit it is worse than even I expected, but I did warn you all. I did. You can run the tape.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Much of the former president&rsquo;s speech sought to excoriate Trump&rsquo;s tenure, with Obama claiming Trump is eroding American democracy. Obama slammed many of Trump&rsquo;s actions, including deploying the National Guard to U.S. cities led by Democratic leaders.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3870647\/ten-competitive-races-track-virginia-house-delegates-2025-election\/\">TEN COMPETITIVE RACES TO TRACK FOR VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES IN 2025 ELECTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former President Barack Obama addresses rallygoers in Virginia, Nov. 1, 2025. (Adisa Hargett-Robinson\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;I am worried about how quickly basic democratic rules and norms have been weakened,&rdquo; Obama told the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats are hoping that backlash to Trump&rsquo;s economic policies, the government shutdown, and the slashing of the federal workforce will boost their candidates in Virginia and in New Jersey, giving them some momentum to run on ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am here to ask you to vote for the next governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger,&rdquo;<strong> <\/strong>Obama told the audience. &ldquo;Lord knows, we need that light, we need that inspiration because let&rsquo;s face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Obama will also campaign with Rep.&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mikie-sherrill\/\">Mikie Sherrill<\/a>&nbsp;(D-NJ), who is facing Republican&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jack-ciattarelli\/\">Jack Ciattarelli<\/a>&nbsp;in New Jersey&rsquo;s gubernatorial race, later on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, Trump and Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/glenn-youngkin\/\">Glenn Youngkin<\/a> (R-VA) rallied Republicans to get out and vote for the entire ticket and outlined the stakes of the election for Virginia on Thursday evening, a Youngkin aide confirmed to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. Youngkin noted that Trump held a similar tele-rally for him the night before his election and it&rsquo;s what delivered him his victory in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>But Trump has notably had a distant relationship with Virginia Republican Lt. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\">Winsome <\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\">E<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\">arle-Sears<\/a>, instead enthusiastically endorsing Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares in his reelection battle against the scandal-ridden Democrat Jay Jones.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3866032\/virginia-election-key-issues-what-to-know\/\">WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUES DOMINATING THE VIRGINIA ELECTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Obama and the speakers who came before him encouraged attendees to vote early in Virginia as Democrats look to ensure Spanberger can flip the governor&rsquo;s mansion blue after Youngkin won in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;On Tuesday, we are going to send a message,&rdquo; Spanberger said in her speech before she introduced Obama onstage. &ldquo;A message that Virginia is turning the page.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Spanberger heads into Election Day with momentum behind her campaign. She has comfortably led Earle-Sears in polling the entire cycle. Yet during her speech, Spanberger emphasized that Earle-Sears&rsquo;s support of Trump&rsquo;s slashing of the federal workforce will hurt Virginia, which has a sizable population of federal workers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;On every major issue facing Virginia&rsquo;s families, my opponent is focused on the wrong things,&rdquo; Spanberger said. <\/p>\n<p>But the Obama appearance on the campaign trail suggests that Democrats are leaving nothing to chance after 2024&rsquo;s disastrous cycle. <\/p>\n<p>The excitement around Obama was also seen among young first-time voters who were children when Obama&rsquo;s second term ended in 2016.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An Obama supporter donning a custom cape featuring the former president at a Virginia rally, Nov. 1, 2025. (Adisa Hargett-Robinson\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;Abigail aligns more with, like, my morals and like my beliefs,&rdquo; Zoe Martin, 18, of Virginia Beach told the <em>Washington Examiner.<\/em> &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m voting for her, my full support. And obviously Obama. I love Obama, so I want to come out to see him. And you know, he&rsquo;s supporting her, so I just want to come see it,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I came out because, like, I&rsquo;ve never been to a rally. This is my first time,&rdquo; added Shayla Shaw, 19, a Virginia Beach resident. &ldquo;And I heard some things that the other opponent said &hellip; I don&rsquo;t really agree with and I like Abigail more. So I just wanted to see what she was thinking, like what she wants to do for Virginia.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>With just three days left before Election Day, the push for turnout dominated the rally. Organizers guided attendees to a nearby early-voting site, where many cast their ballots before returning for the event. Norfolk residents who had already voted &mdash; including those who voted earlier in the day &mdash; were allowed to bypass the much <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >longer general-admission line<\/a> and head straight into the rally.<\/p>\n<p>Voters appeared warm to Spanberger, though several admitted Obama was the reason they showed up.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/2025-elections-live-updates-new-jersey-virginia-governor-new-york-mayor\/\">2025 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST ON RACES IN VIRGINIA, NEW JERSEY, AND NEW YORK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think Abigail Spanberger is going to be fantastic. And of course, I have always loved Barack Obama, so I&rsquo;m very excited to see him, and I&rsquo;m so glad he&rsquo;s putting his weight behind Abigail,&rdquo; Nancy Carothers, 77, of Virginia Beach said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Everything he says is always fantastic and inspiring, and I know he will encourage us to fight on and fight harder and protect our country,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p><em>Samantha-Jo Roth contributed to this report.<strong> <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Obama criticizes Trump at Virginia rally for Spanberger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4095,"featured_media":2505592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25305726264023.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[23234,5315,32249,3634,5468],"class_list":["post-2505591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-campaigning","tag-obama","tag-spanberger","tag-trump","tag-virginia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25305726264023.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4095"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2505591"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2505595,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505591\/revisions\/2505595"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2505592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2505591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2505591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2505591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}