In Trump’s Telling, Obama and Biden Should Have Fixed It All

Rhetoric helps Trump avoid accountability, shift blame
Falsely says Obama ‘never even tried’ on police brutality

Barack Obama and Joe Biden walk through the Crypt of the Capitol for Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony, in Washington, D.C., on Jan, 20, 2017.
Photographer: Pool/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Jordan Fabian

June 25, 2020 at 8:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Faced with crises from the coronavirus pandemic to nationwide protests against police brutality, President Donald Trump is increasingly turning to a favored defense: Blame Barack Obama.

Deriding his predecessor carries twin benefits for the president. It offers an escape from failures such as the botched rollout of coronavirus testing, and it drags down his 2020 Democratic opponent, Obama’s vice president, Joe Biden.