Barack Obama says troop deployment to the border is a "political stunt"

Barack Obama ridiculed the deployment of thousands of active-duty support troops sent by the Trump administration to the U.S.-Mexico border as a “political stunt”, as he rallied for Florida Democrats and found himself repeatedly heckled by protesters on Friday afternoon.

“They’re telling you the existential threat to America is a bunch of poor refugees a thousand miles away,” Obama said referencing the caravan of Central American migrants headed toward the United States.

“They’re even taking our brave troops away from their families for a political stunt at the border,” Obama added. “The men and women of our military deserve better than that. So they’re just constant fear mongering to distract from the record.”

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis emphatically denied that the deployment is part of a political stunt ahead of next week’s midterm elections. “We don’t do stunts in this department. Thank you,” Mattis said.

Obama’s comments on the caravan came as he was heckled multiple times during a rally in Miami on Friday afternoon with Democrats ahead of next week’s midterm elections.

At one point, Obama addressed a protester and said, “Sir, don’t curse in front of kids. Come on.”

Obama flew to Miami to campaign for incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum. Later Friday, Obama is scheduled to travel to Atlanta to campaign for gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and other Democrats.

“This is what I look forward to — is having a few hecklers to get me back in the mood,” Obama said after one heckling. “I enjoy that. You always got to have a few in order to know that you’re on the campaign trail.”

Interrupted again, Barack Obama told a heckler to attend a Republican rally instead.

“Here’s the deal,” Obama said. “If you support the other candidates, then you should go support the other candidates. Don’t be here. One of the things I never understood was why if you’re supporting the other guy, you come to my rally. Go to their rally.”

In his remarks, Barack Obama said Gillum is “one of the most inspiring, gifted candidates” running this year while taking aim at Republicans, claiming “America’s at a crossroads.”

“Maybe most of all, the character of our country is on the ballot,” Obama said. “In the closing weeks of this election we have seen repeated attempts to divide us with rhetoric designed to make us angry and make us fearful. It’s designed to exploit our history of racial and ethnic and religious division that pits us against one another.”

During the rally, Obama once again took credit for the improving economy under President Trump.

“Right now, Republicans are all, look, the economy is so good,” he said. “Where do you think that started?”

Obama also referenced the Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, and the indictments of former Trump associates for an assortment of crimes.

“They promised to take on corruption,” Obama said. “Instead, they have racked up enough indictments to field a football team. You know, I didn’t have anybody in my administration get indicted.”

Obama’s attempt to energize voters ahead of Tuesday’s vote came on a day of dueling rallies with President Trump.

President Trump will be campaigning for Republicans Friday in West Virginia, before heading off to hold a rally in Indiana.

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