Barack Obama attacks Donald Trump over White House renovations at Ohio rally

Barack Obama has attacked Donald Trump's administration for raising the cost of living while renovating the White House at a campaign rally in Ohio.

The 44th President, campaigning for Democrats in the state, admitted the White House does not directly control the economy.

But he directly blamed Mr Trump and his actions in Iran for spiking fuel prices, dramatically increasing the cost of living.

He said: "Most importantly, he decided to start an unnecessary war that nobody asked for and nobody voted for.

"This election is our last, best chance to at least rein in some of the foolishness of this administration.

"It's the circuit breaker in the system. We need to flip that circuit breaker.

"We need to start bringing some accountability to this administration."

Under the current President, US petrol prices climbed above $4.60 a gallon in May, while diesel surged to a record $6.50 in September.

On October 9, Mr Trump struck a controversial deal with Russia, allowing the export of diesel into the US and global market.

He claimed Russia would immediately export 300,000 tonnes, or 2.25 million barrels, to the US and global markets, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November and one million tonnes "immediately thereafter".

The first shipment is now expected to arrive in the US on November 7 - four days after the midterms.

Mr Obama is no stranger to managing the economy during crisis.

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In 2009, the former President oversaw the US recovery from the global financial crisis caused by the housing bubble and subprime mortgages, passing a stimulus package while simultaneously bolstering the pro-small Government, national debt-focused Tea Party faction of the Republican Party, which harshly criticised it.

He also attacked the President's White House renovations, suggesting Mr Trump was not "spending all that time thinking about these issues".

He said: "Guy's building a ballroom that's bigger than the White House. He's paved over the Rose Garden, put a helicopter pad on the South lawn, and there's gold everywhere - what's up with the gold?

"He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."

The Cheesecake Factory is a US chain restaurant known for its ostentatious decoration and long menu, despite low prices.

Mr Obama made his swipes at a campaign rally in support of gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, who faces businessman and one-time Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, a former Senator looking to return to the upper chamber by usurping incumbent Jon Husted.

Mr Ramaswamy has come under heavy criticism for releasing a campaign video featuring Mrs Acton's estranged mother calling her daughter a liar.

The ad failed to disclose that the husband of Mrs Acton's mother sexually abused the Democratic candidate as a young child.

She remained married to the man until he died in 2004.

Mr Trump has defended the ad and retained his endorsement of Mr Ramaswamy, saying it allowed everyone to "listen to the mother of a defective, dishonest, and incapable candidate, explain how the daughter is a DISASTER who, uncontrollably, lies, cheats, and steals", in a post on Truth Social.

He added: "The Press is trying to convince everyone that this ad is bad, because it's so good! Who wouldn't use such an ad? I would, it's called, 'hitting pay dirt'."

Mr Obama said Mr Trump's support of the ad showed there was "no line he will not cross".