US President Barack Obama has described the rhetoric of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as “xenophobic” and “cynical.”
Obama made the comments at a news conference on Wednesday in Ottawa with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Obama said Trump did not meet the criteria of being a “populist,” without mentioning the wealthy businessman by name.
“Somebody … who has never shown any regard for workers, has never fought on behalf of social justice issues or making sure that poor kids are getting a decent shot at life or have health care,” does not meet the definition, Obama said.
“They don’t suddenly become a populist because they say something controversial in order to win votes. That’s not the measure of populism. That’s nativism, or xenophobia. Or worse. Or it’s just cynicism,” he said.
He made a point of saying US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Hillary Clinton’s opponent…