Obama Wants America to Remember the Election Isn’t a ‘Reality Show’

Read: How Donald Trump Celebrated His Victory Over the Republican Party

President Barack Obama has had a pretty fun-filled stretch, dancing with R2-D2 for Star Wars day and hanging with Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston. But on Friday, the man was back to business and feeling particularly no-nonsense when it comes to the “the spectacle and the circus” of Donald Trump’s candidacy.

At a White House press conference, POTUS reminded reporters—and the American public—that the 2016 election isn’t a game, even though it sure as hell feels like one.

After being asked about Trump, Obama responded that “we are in serious times, and this is a really serious job,” adding, “This is not entertainment. This is not a reality show. This is a contest for the presidency of the United States. Every candidate, every nominee, needs to be subject to exacting standards and genuine scrutiny.”

Obama urged Republicans to think long and hard about their choices—and “whether this is the guy who speaks for them and represents their values.” He also specifically called out Republican women to consider whether this is the man they feel comfortable representing them in the White House.

“He has a long record that needs to be examined,” Obama said, adding that anyone who could potentially uproot important relationships with other countries needs to be reconsidered.

This is the first time Obama has spoken out about Trump since the Big Orange Menace basically secured the Republican nomination on Tuesday. But he’s expected to play a major role in the general election, presumably to bolster his sorta-pal Hillary Clinton and try to ensure his administration’s policies aren’t totally reversed in 2017.

Thumbnail photo via dcblog