President Obama is attributing Donald Trump's political success to exploitation of American fears and anxiety over the future.
"Some of it is justified, but just misdirected," Obama told NPR News. "I think somebody like Mr. Trump is taking advantage of that. That's what he's exploiting during the course of his campaign."
In addition to the nation's changing demographics, Obama cited the economic stresses brought on the financial crisis of 2008-09, the increased reliance on new technology, globalization, and stagnant wages and income — forces that have hit "blue-collar men" in particular.
"They are no longer getting the same bargain that they got when they were going to a factory and able to support their families on a single paycheck," Obama said. "You combine those things and it means that there is going to be potential anger, frustration, fear."
Trump, meanwhile, has built much of his campaign on criticism of Obama's term in office, and he leads many Republican preference polls.
The New York billionaire has also questioned whether Obama was born in the United States. In the NPR News interview taped last week, the Hawaii-born president said some of those attacks may be attributable in part to the fact that he is the nation's first African-American commander-in-chief.
"I would say that that's something that is actively promoted and may gain traction because of my unique demographic," Obama said.
"Some of it is justified, but just misdirected," Obama told NPR News. "I think somebody like Mr. Trump is taking advantage of that. That's what he's exploiting during the course of his campaign."
In addition to the nation's changing demographics, Obama cited the economic stresses brought on the financial crisis of 2008-09, the increased reliance on new technology, globalization, and stagnant wages and income — forces that have hit "blue-collar men" in particular.
"They are no longer getting the same bargain that they got when they were going to a factory and able to support their families on a single paycheck," Obama said. "You combine those things and it means that there is going to be potential anger, frustration, fear."
Trump, meanwhile, has built much of his campaign on criticism of Obama's term in office, and he leads many Republican preference polls.
The New York billionaire has also questioned whether Obama was born in the United States. In the NPR News interview taped last week, the Hawaii-born president said some of those attacks may be attributable in part to the fact that he is the nation's first African-American commander-in-chief.
"I would say that that's something that is actively promoted and may gain traction because of my unique demographic," Obama said.
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