Donald Trump described Barack Obama as a “terrible” president during a roughly hour-long address at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual fundraising dinner in Washington, D.C., on March 25. However, he stopped short of calling Obama the worst in U.S. history, reserving that label for Joe Biden.
The event, which raised a record $37 million, featured Trump receiving the inaugural “America First Award” from House Speaker Mike Johnson—a newly created golden eagle statue honoring the president’s leadership. Trump used the platform to rally Republicans amid midterm election preparations and declining poll numbers for some party members.
In his speech, Trump urged unity, declaring: “We will make America strong again… proud again… safe again—and most importantly, great again.” He encouraged attendees to secure victories in the upcoming midterms, framing the contest as a battle against what he called the “corruption and radicalism” of the Democratic Party.
Trump’s critique of past Democratic presidents came after accepting the award. He portrayed Obama as a “great divider” who split the nation and struck a flawed nuclear deal with Iran. “He gave Iran the right to have a nuclear weapon at the highest level within a very short period of time,” Trump claimed, adding that he terminated the agreement upon taking office. Despite these sharp remarks, Trump insisted Biden was “the worst president in history,” describing him as ineffective and damaging to the country.
Representatives for Obama and Biden have not commented on the accusations.
Trump also touched on Middle East tensions, referencing recent U.S.-Israel military actions against Iran. He asserted that Iranian leaders “want to make a deal so badly” but are reluctant due to fears of domestic backlash and international consequences. Iranian officials pushed back firmly. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the claims as “fake news” designed to manipulate financial and oil markets while diverting attention from challenges facing the U.S. and Israel. Other Iranian voices echoed that no negotiations were underway.
The speech blended familiar Trump themes—national renewal, criticism of predecessors, and foreign policy optimism—with a call for Republican cohesion heading into the elections. Observers described the remarks as meandering yet energetic, typical of the president’s rally-style delivery even at a formal fundraiser.
