In a recent interview, former President Barack Obama criticized Republican South Carolina Senator Tim Scott’s approach to racial issues.

The former commander-in-chief spoke with Democratic strategist David Axelrod in an interview on CNN that aired Thursday. Axelrod asked President Obama what he thought of Scott’s handling of racism during the campaign. Obama accused Scott of making light of racial issues in America. (Related: Tim Scott Announces 2024 Presidential Campaign)

“I think there’s a long history of African-American and other minority candidates within the Republican Party legitimizing America and saying, ‘Everything is great, we can all make it.’ I mean, so does Nikki Haley. I think we’re taking a approach,” Obama said.

“I’m not being sarcastic about Tim Scott personally, but suggesting that the ‘can’t we all get along’ rhetoric need to be backed up by an honest account of our past and present. may be,” President Obama added.

Scott discussed President Obama’s impact on race in his speech Wednesday. interview Along with his attorney Mark Levin, the former president claimed he missed an opportunity to unite Americans of different races.

Talk about President Obama, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, and how they talk about race @davidaxelrod pic.twitter.com/C8uv4b7oci

— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) June 15, 2023

“When it comes to race, don’t you think Barack Obama missed a huge opportunity to really unite the country? To let people be who they are instead of building this collectivism?” Levin asked.

“Mark, he missed a slow-moving softball with a big bat,” Scott replied. “We can’t let this opportunity pass. America was hungry to unite the nation. As MLK said, black kids and white kids and red kids and brown kids Building this coalition that joins hands and sings “My country is yours” with a new meaning. Scott replied.

“President Biden is running He was both a great uniter and a great separatist. I hear more negative things than ever about those under his leadership. And let me tell you that it’s conservatives who don’t want black people in this country on the far left,” he continued.

“America can come together, but not because of the color of our skin, but because of the consistency of our values,” Scott added.