In a speech delivered in Tucson, Arizona, former President Barack Obama took aim at the economic policies of Republican nominee Donald Trump. He claimed that the economic growth Trump enjoyed during his initial two years in office was a direct result of the foundational work established by the Obama administration. Obama stated, “I handed over an economy that was growing steadily,” emphasizing that he spent eight years recovering from the economic downturn left by Republicans. He highlighted the 75 consecutive months of job growth during his presidency, arguing that Trump inherited a stable economy but later harmed it with tax cuts for the wealthy and tariff policies that would negatively impact American families.

Obama cautioned that Trump's tariffs might function as a "Trump sales tax," potentially costing families around $4,000 each year. His remarks sparked a mix of reactions online, with some users accusing Obama of taking credit for Trump’s successes, while others defended him, stating he had indeed handed Trump a strong economy before it was mismanaged.