Obama Says Opposition To Him Is Xenophobic, Trump Is Exploiting Anger from Blue-Collar Racists

President Barack Obama claimed Monday in an interview with NPR that the main reason why some “ordinary voters” have anxiety about his political vision is because he is the first black president.

“You mentioned Donald Trump taking advantage of real anxieties in the country but that the anxieties are real. Some of that anxiety, as you know, focuses on you, Mr. President. And I want to set aside the politicians for a moment and just talk about ordinary voters. Do you feel over seven years that you’ve come to understand why it is that some ordinary people in America believe or fear that you are trying to change the country in some way that they cannot accept?” NPR’s Steve Innskeep asked Obama.

Obama implied that opposition towards his presidency and policies is unique as a result of his skin color.

“Well, look, if what you are asking me, Steve, is are there certain circumstances around being the first African-American president that might not have confronted a previous president, absolutely,” he said. “Are there certain circumstances around being the first African-American president that might not have confronted a previous president? Absolutely.”

He argued that the reason people believe he is a Muslim and/or not born in the U.S., falsely framing these fringe perceptions as somewhat common, is because of his “unique demographic.”

“If you are referring to specific strains in the Republican Party that suggest that somehow I’m different, I’m Muslim, I’m disloyal to the country, etc., which unfortunately is pretty far out there and gets some traction in certain pockets of the Republican Party, and that have been articulated by some of their elected officials, what I’d say there is that that’s probably pretty specific to me and who I am and my background, and that in some ways I may represent change that worries them.”

Obama said other reasons why some Americans have concerns about his presidency are superficial and likely based on his appearance.

“Some of them may not like my policies, some of them may just not like how I walk, or my big ears or, you know,” he said.