President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE criticized President Obama early Wednesday for making “inflammatory” statements during the transition period.

“Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.Thought it was going to be a smooth transition — NOT!” Trump wrote on Twitter.

Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.Thought it was going to be a smooth transition - NOT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

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Obama said Monday on a CNN podcast that if he had been able to run for reelection again this year, he would have won.



Trump has responded on Twitter numerous times in recent days, writing one that there’s “NO WAY” Obama would have beaten him and later adding that the president “campaigned hard (and personally) in the very important swing states, and lost.”

Obama made an apparent reference to Trump on Wednesday when he spoke at Pearl Harbor after his historic meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, telling the U.S. not to “turn inward.”

"It is here that we remember that even when hatred burns hottest, even when the tug of tribalism is at its most primal, we must resist the urge to turn inward, we must resist the urge to demonize those who are different," Obama said.

Early in Obama’s presidency, Trump became one of the leading voices in the “birther” movement questioning the authenticity of the president’s birth certificate and suggesting he was not born in the U.S.

After Obama released his long-form birth certificate, Trump bragged that he was the one who forced him to do so and for years continued to claim uncertainty about Obama’s birthplace.

In September, Trump acknowledged Obama was born in the U.S. and sought to blame Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE for being the true source of the birther conspiracy during her 2008 Democratic presidential primary fight with then-Sen. Obama.

Trump frequently attacked Obama on the campaign trail on issues ranging from ObamaCare to the Iran nuclear deal to the fight against terrorism.

Obama and first lady Michelle Obama Michelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaBlack stars reimagine 'Friends' to get out the vote Obama shares phone number to find out how Americans are planning to vote Michelle Obama: 'Don't listen to people who will say that somehow voting is rigged' MORE frequently campaigned for Clinton during the presidential election and openly criticized Trump.

But after Trump’s Election Day win, Obama welcomed Trump to the Oval Office and said he was committed to ensuring a smooth transition.

Trump and Obama maintained an open line of communication after the election, and the two spoke “a handful” of times in November, the White House said at the time.

“I do like him. I love getting his ideas, Trump said after the Oval Office meeting. "And I may differ in many cases, I differ very greatly. In many cases I’m the opposite."

During a press conference after the election, Obama praised Trump's “impressive” ability to energize supporters and suggested he had qualities that would help him as president.

“I don’t think he is ideological,” Obama said. “I think ultimately he’s pragmatic, in that way. And that can serve him well.”

Trump said earlier this month that he has consulted with Obama on some of his Cabinet nominations.

Updated at 10:54 a.m.