President Obama dismissed insults Republican nominee Donald Trump hurled at him during the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America’s “commander in chief” forum Wednesday night, saying that if Americans really listen to what the hotel magnate says, they will never elect him.
“I don’t think the guy is qualified to be president of the United States and every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed,” Obama said in his wrap-up of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders’ meeting in Laos Thursday.
“I think the most important thing… is to just listen to what he says and follow up and ask questions about what appear to be either contradictory or uninformed or outright wacky ideas,” he said.
Obama also lamented that “somehow behavior that in normal times we would consider completely unacceptable and outrageous becomes normalized and people start thinking that we should start grading on a curve.”
After mingling with world leaders for nearly a week in China and Laos for the G-20 summit and ASEAN meeting, Obama said people should understand the stakes.
“This is serious business and you actually have to know what you’re talking about and you actually have to have done your homework,” Obama said. “And when you speak, it should actually represent thought-out policy you can implement.”
If Americans study Trump’s words, proposals and “track record, or lack thereof,” he is confident that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton will prevail, Obama said.
