Obama: Trump shows ignorance, seeks tweets instead of solutions

US President Barack Obama mocked US Republican candidate Donald Trump at today's G7 session, saying the billionaire seeks tweets instead of solutions and has "shaken" foreign leaders with his pronouncements, Reuters reports, according to the Patria News Agency.

Obama accused the real estate mogul and former reality TV producer of making reckless comments to appear provocative, and called on all presidential candidates to "stay on level" in a difficult and harsh campaign.

Obama said his G7 counterparts were "surprised by the Republican candidate."

They are unsure how seriously to take some of his pronouncements, but they have been "shaken" by them, the president said at a press conference during the G7 summit in central Japan.
It's not hard to understand, given that many of his proposals show either ignorance of world politics, a careless attitude, or an interest in getting tweets and headlines, rather than thinking about what is really needed to keep America safe, stable, and prosperous, the US president added in his address to reporters.

Many US allies fear that Trump will fuel a sense of insecurity in countries worried about China's growing power, encourage nationalists and authoritarians, and "undo" Obama's pivot to the Asia-Pacific.

Trump is also accused of racism and intolerance towards dissenters, for stating that he would build a wall to prevent Mexican immigrants from entering the US, and that he would temporarily ban Muslims from entering the US. He has also made comments considered demeaning to women.

The race between Trump on one side, and Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, and Senator Bernie Sanders for the elections to be held on November 8, is increasingly becoming bitter and personal.

This week, Trump raised his accusations against Clinton to an unprecedented level in contemporary US presidential campaigns, making inflammatory statements that TV networks cannot resist broadcasting, thus giving him hours of free media space and putting his opponents on the defensive.

Obama said it is common for journalists in such a campaign to focus on every "eye roll, blink, conflict, stumble, offensive speech," but he also urged candidates on both sides to stick to key issues.

People get irritated when they feel we are not talking about problems but about personalities or character, the US president claims.

Obama, a Democrat, has so far made the most detailed analysis of his own party's behavior in the race, while refusing to take sides.

He dismissed the suggestion that it would be harder to defeat Trump now that the party conventions are approaching in July, at a time when the Democratic winner can focus on fighting Trump instead of a Democratic opponent, adding that the Democratic battle has been tough.

Fighting friends is more exhausting than fighting political opponents, Obama said.

He added that there are no major ideological differences between Clinton, the former first lady and senator, and Sanders, a fiery populist who declares himself a democratic socialist.

The president also said that it is important that the race ultimately ends in a way that "both sides feel proud of what they have done," according to the Reuters report.