ISE-SHIMA, Japan: US President Barack Obama disparaged US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Thursday, saying the billionaire seeks tweets over solutions and has "rattled" foreign leaders with his pronouncements.
Obama accused the real estate mogul and former reality TV impresario of making cavalier comments for provocative effect, and he urged all presidential candidates to take the high road in a boisterous and harsh campaign.
Weighing in on the race to succeed him with his strongest broadside yet against Trump, Obama said fellow leaders from the Group of Seven nations "are surprised by the Republican nominee".
"They are not sure how seriously to take some of his pronouncements but they are rattled by them," the president told a news conference on the sidelines of a G7 summit in central Japan.
"For good reason, because a lot of the proposals he has made display either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines, instead of actually thinking through what it is that is required to keep America safe, secure and prosperous and the world on an even keel."
Many U.S. allies fear Trump will feed insecurity in countries worried about China's growing power, embolden nationalists and authoritarians, and unravel Obama's "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific.
Trump has also been accused of racism and bigotry for saying he would build a wall to keep out illegal Mexican immigrants and would temporarily ban Muslims from the United States. He has also made comments considered demeaning to women.
The race between Trump on the one hand and the Democratic candidates, front-runner Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state, and Senator Bernie Sanders, for the Nov. 8 election has become increasingly bitter and personal.
Trump this week took his use of accusations against Clinton to levels unprecedented in modern US presidential campaigns, making incendiary statements that television networks cannot resist covering, giving him hours of free media and putting his opponents on the defensive.
Obama said it was natural for journalists in such a campaign to elevate "every roll, blink, speed bump, conflict, trash talkin'", but urged, instead, that candidates from both sides stick to the issues.
"Grumpiness arises where folks feel that we're not talking about issues but personalities or character."
Obama, a Democrat, issued his most extensive analysis to date of his own party's race, while refusing to take sides.
He rejected a suggestion that beating Trump would get more difficult as the two parties' conventions approach in July, a period when the Democratic victor can focus on fighting Trump instead of the fellow Democrat, adding that the Democrat battle was tough.
"Arguing against your friends is more draining than arguing against political opponents," Obama said.
He said there were no big ideological differences between Clinton, an establishment candidate who is a former First Lady and senator, and Sanders, a firebrand populist who identifies as a Democratic Socialist.
The president said it was important that the race eventually end in a way "that leaves both sides feeling proud of what they've done."
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Obama accused the real estate mogul and former reality TV impresario of making cavalier comments for provocative effect, and he urged all presidential candidates to take the high road in a boisterous and harsh campaign.
Weighing in on the race to succeed him with his strongest broadside yet against Trump, Obama said fellow leaders from the Group of Seven nations "are surprised by the Republican nominee".
"For good reason, because a lot of the proposals he has made display either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines, instead of actually thinking through what it is that is required to keep America safe, secure and prosperous and the world on an even keel."
Advertisement
Trump has also been accused of racism and bigotry for saying he would build a wall to keep out illegal Mexican immigrants and would temporarily ban Muslims from the United States. He has also made comments considered demeaning to women.
The race between Trump on the one hand and the Democratic candidates, front-runner Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state, and Senator Bernie Sanders, for the Nov. 8 election has become increasingly bitter and personal.
Advertisement
Obama said it was natural for journalists in such a campaign to elevate "every roll, blink, speed bump, conflict, trash talkin'", but urged, instead, that candidates from both sides stick to the issues.
Advertisement
Obama, a Democrat, issued his most extensive analysis to date of his own party's race, while refusing to take sides.
Advertisement
"Arguing against your friends is more draining than arguing against political opponents," Obama said.
Advertisement
The president said it was important that the race eventually end in a way "that leaves both sides feeling proud of what they've done."
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Awkward, Exposed, Lacking Direction: Why Donald Trump Is Struggling How Rupert Murdoch Helped Create A Monster - The Era Of Trumpism - And Then Lost Control Of It For Debate Against Kamala Harris, Donald Trump Picks This Hindu American Kolkata Rape-Murder: Fractures, 150 mg Semen, Other Claims Denied By Cops CBI Team At Kolkata Hospital For Digital Mapping Of Crime Scene Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah To Be Prosecuted In Land Scam Case Ram Charan And Upasana Level Up The Twinning Game In Chic All-Black Looks Video: Man Skis Off 18,753-Foot Himalayan Cliff, Shatters World Record Court Reserves Order On Summoning Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi In Land For Job Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.