KEY POINTS

  • Obama reportedly called Trump a "madman" in conversations with donors
  • Obama initially preferred Trump over Sen. Ted Cruz as president
  • Trump had previously suggested that Obama was a Muslim

Former President Barack Obama reportedly had R-rated criticism of Donald Trump behind the scenes, a new book revealed.

The former president is known for being good-natured and has largely remained mum about former President Trump's administration. However, in a new book to be released next week, Obama reportedly voiced his dismay for the 45th president in scathing remarks.

Obama had R-rated criticisms of Trump in conversations with donors and political advisors, according to "Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Donald Trump," a new book written by The Atlantic writer Edward-Isaac Dovere. The Guardian reported excerpts from the book.

Obama reportedly used terms like “corrupt motherf---er,” “madman” and “racist, sexist pig” to describe his successor. It is not clear when these donor events took place.

“I didn’t think we’d have a racist, sexist pig,” the former president reportedly said.

Obama’s strongest criticism came after reports revealed that Trump was speaking to foreign leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, without any aides present on the call.

“That corrupt motherf---er,” Obama reportedly remarked.

In the book, Dovere also revealed that Obama initially preferred Trump as president over Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, who was the runner-up in the GOP primary in 2016.

Trump and Obama have had a contentious relationship in recent years. Trump had promoted a birther conspiracy theory questioning Obama’s citizenship before acknowledging Obama’s birthplace in 2016. He had previously suggested that Obama was a Muslim.

"President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period," he said in a statement. "Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again."

Trump had also launched efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, which was Obama’s signature legislation.

Former US president Donald Trump's grip on the Republican Party has tightened with the ouster of one of his chief Republican critics from her leadership role in the party
Former US president Donald Trump's grip on the Republican Party has tightened with the ouster of one of his chief Republican critics from her leadership role in the party AFP / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS