Obama previewed his role as an anti-Trump spokesman and pressed the media to follow suit.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He has a long record that needs to be examined. And I think it’s important to take seriously the statements he’s made in the past,” the president told reporters at the White House. “I just want to emphasize that we are in serious times and this is a serious job.”

Obama took a jab at Trump’s past as host of the “Apprentice” reality television series: “This is not entertainment, this is not a reality show, this is a contest for president of the United States.”

Obama made a measured and stern critique of Trump and Republicans in Congress. He refrained from commenting about Trump’s controversial tweet that showed him posing with a taco bowl to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

“I have no thoughts on Mr. Trump's tweets,” Obama said, with a laugh. “As a general rule, I don’t pay attention to Mr. Trump's tweets. That will be true for the next six months, so you can just file that one.”

Obama said GOP voters will have to ask themselves “whether this is the guy who speaks for them and represent their values,” adding that Republican women, in particular, “are going to have to decide, 'Is that the guy I feel comfortable with?’ ”

"On the Democratic side, let’s let the process play itself out," he said.

But Obama also tacitly acknowledged Clinton's big delegate lead means she is likely to become the party's presidential nominee.

“Everybody knows what that math is," he said.