Obama to Trump: America is great right now

“America’s winning right now. America’s great right now,” Obama said at a gathering of business executives in Washington.

With his comments, Obama appropriated two of Trump’s signature phrases.

Trump, who currently leads GOP polls, has said he is running for president to make America great again and frequently wears a hat reading “make America great again” in block letters.

The real estate magnate also has insisted that America “never wins” anymore. He has advertised his negotiating and deal-making skills to voters, arguing that Obama and other government leadership strike unfavorable deals with other nations and businesses.

The Obama administration, in recent days, has sought to impress on the public the improvement in the economy since the recession. Obama and his advisers have argued that Republicans are threatening to shut down the government over spending disputes, threatening what is otherwise an economic recovery gaining momentum.

Later, in a question-and-answer session with the executives, Obama delivered what he termed a “quick rant” that appeared to be an indirect criticism of Trump’s campaign rhetoric, although Obama did not mention him by name.

“This whole notion that somehow we’re getting outcompeted, out dealt, out-this, out-that, we’re losing — nobody outside the United States understands what we’re talking about,” Obama said, adding later that there is “not a country out there, including China, that wouldn’t look at us with envy right now.”

The U.S.-China relationship has been a particular focus for Trump on the campaign trail. Obama mentioned to the business executives that U.S. relations with China will not be served by the “loose talk and name-calling that I’ve noticed some of our presidential candidates engage in. People you know.”

Rather than China, “our problem’s us, typically,” said Obama.

“We engage in self-inflicted wounds,” Obama explained, citing the possibility of a government shutdown.