Trump: "Obama, Extremely Incompetent"... Obama: "Those Responsible Are Not Doing Their Part"

Conflict Between Current and Former US Presidents Over COVID-19 Response

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former and current U.S. presidents clashed ahead of the response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Former President Barack Obama criticized the current administration's COVID-19 response, prompting President Donald Trump to retaliate by calling it an "incompetent regime."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 17th (local time), according to U.S. foreign media, President Trump described former President Obama as "incredibly incompetent." When reporters asked for his comment on Obama's criticism of the current administration's COVID-19 policies, Trump said, "He was an incompetent president," adding, "All I can say is he was incredibly incompetent."

Earlier, former President Obama criticized the Trump administration's response to COVID-19. In an online speech at an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) graduation, he stated, "This pandemic has shattered the notion that many people in positions of responsibility know what they are supposed to do," and criticized, "Many officials are even pretending they are not responsible."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The Hill, a U.S. political magazine, reported that "former President Obama rarely criticized President Trump after leaving office." However, CNN previously revealed that Obama, during a call with his aides, described Trump's COVID-19 response as a "complete chaotic disaster."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.