• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Leadership

President Obama Slams Donald Trump As ‘Insecure’

By
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
and
Fortune Staff
Fortune Staff
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
The Associated Press
The Associated Press
and
Fortune Staff
Fortune Staff
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 9, 2016, 5:56 PM ET
President Obama Gives Statement Before Departing White House For Martha's Vineyard Vacation
Photograph by Chip Somodevilla — Getty Images

President Barack Obama suggested that Donald Trump insults people because he’s “insecure.”

“One of the most disturbing things about this election is just the unbelievable rhetoric coming at the top of the Republican ticket,” Obama said at a fundraiser on Sunday in Chicago.

Without saying Trump’s name, Obama referenced the recently leaked tape that revealed Donald Trump talking about grabbing women “by the p—y,” as well as other sexually aggressive comments. Obama cited comments that were “demeaning women, degrading women, but also minorities, immigrants, people of other faiths, mocking the disabled, insulting our troops, insulting our veterans.”

That, Obama said, “tells you a couple things. It tells you he is insecure enough that he pumps himself up by putting other people down. Not a character trait that I would advise for somebody in the Oval Office.” He added, “I don’t need to repeat it. There are children in the room.”

Donald Trump released a videotaped apology on Friday night for his remarks, saying that his hot-mic comments were just “locker room” banter, and he regrets the incident.

About the Authors
By The Associated Press
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Fortune Staff
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

trump
PoliticsIran
Trump’s journey from ‘annihilation’ to ‘PEACE’ in one day rested on realization of a long-term battle to control Strait of Hormuz
By Aamer Madhani, Will Weissert, Josh Boak, Farnoush Amiri and The Associated PressApril 9, 2026
1 hour ago
Why CEO Michelle Gass is thriving at Levi’s after stumbling at Kohl’s
NewslettersCEO Daily
Why CEO Michelle Gass is thriving at Levi’s after stumbling at Kohl’s
By Phil WahbaApril 9, 2026
3 hours ago
quiet
AIdisruption
White-collar workers are quietly rebelling against AI as 80% outright refuse adoption mandates
By Nick LichtenbergApril 9, 2026
4 hours ago
Zuckerberg, dressed a black suit, walks away from a white car.
AIMeta
Meta just killed a dashboard that let employees compete to be the company’s No. 1 AI token user
By Jacqueline MunisApril 9, 2026
5 hours ago
Jamie Dimon says the best teams work like Navy SEALs, not sprawling ‘flat’ corporations
Workplace CultureLeadership
Jamie Dimon says the best teams work like Navy SEALs, not sprawling ‘flat’ corporations
By Claire ZillmanApril 9, 2026
6 hours ago
barista
SuccessGen Z
Gen Z doesn’t want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it’s reshaping the entire workforce
By Jake AngeloApril 9, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

The U.S. had a national debt ‘home run’ in its grasp, says Jamie Dimon. But the government did nothing, and now its best option is crisis management
Economy
The U.S. had a national debt ‘home run’ in its grasp, says Jamie Dimon. But the government did nothing, and now its best option is crisis management
By Fortune EditorsApril 8, 2026
1 day ago
2 years ago, Saudi Arabia quietly canceled the ‘petrodollar’ deal with America that wired the world economy for 50 years. Then war broke out in Iran
Energy
2 years ago, Saudi Arabia quietly canceled the ‘petrodollar’ deal with America that wired the world economy for 50 years. Then war broke out in Iran
By Fortune EditorsApril 7, 2026
2 days ago
MacKenzie Scott's latest donation takes her HBCU giving to well over $1 billion
Success
MacKenzie Scott's latest donation takes her HBCU giving to well over $1 billion
By Fortune EditorsApril 7, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of April 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of April 8, 2026
By Fortune EditorsApril 8, 2026
1 day ago
Artemis II’s astronauts are on their way home—a six-figure salary but no overtime or hazard pay awaits them back on Earth
Success
Artemis II’s astronauts are on their way home—a six-figure salary but no overtime or hazard pay awaits them back on Earth
By Fortune EditorsApril 7, 2026
2 days ago
Self-made billionaire MrBeast says his work-life balance is nonexistent and calls it a ‘miracle’ if he works less than 15-hour days: ‘I live to work’
Success
Self-made billionaire MrBeast says his work-life balance is nonexistent and calls it a ‘miracle’ if he works less than 15-hour days: ‘I live to work’
By Fortune EditorsApril 8, 2026
22 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.