Obama Rallies in Cleveland for Sherrod Brown, Blaming Trump for Iran War and Higher Prices

Former President Barack Obama accused President Donald Trump of starting an unnecessary war that nobody asked for, speaking at a Cleveland, Ohio, rally for former Democratic senator Sherrod Brown. It was the first of two midterm rallies for Obama. He said Trump made a series of bad decisions and described the second Trump administration's two years as marked by disorder, cruelty, corruption and incompetence. He told voters they could say enough and vote for change in Ohio. Obama said the Iran war is why prices for oil, diesel and nearly everything are up, and that Iran now holds veto power over the Strait of Hormuz. He said Iran had no nuclear weapons because of the deal he put in place, achieved through diplomacy without firing a missile. Under the 2015 JCPOA, Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment and accept inspections in exchange for eased sanctions. Trump withdrew from it in 2018.

Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative/independent outlets had. CNN, on the left, presents it as a midterm campaign story. Its headline says Obama blames Trump for voter frustrations and notes the first of two rallies, and its excerpt features his line about chaos, cruelty, corruption and incompetence. The excerpt does not mention Iran or Brown. Middle East Eye, an alternative outlet, leads instead with the war, citing AFP and quoting Obama on Iran, Hormuz and prices, and it adds JCPOA background. Both outlets carry the same remark about two years of chaos. They differ in emphasis: CNN stresses domestic politics, Middle East Eye foreign policy. No right-leaning comparison is possible yet.