President Barack Obama might be leaving office, but if given the opportunity to run against Donald Trump for a third term, he's confident he would beat the president-elect. Appearing on the podcast of his former senior advisor, David Axelrod, Obama explained why his message of hope and change would ultimately defeat Trump [1].

"I am confident in this vision because I'm confident that if I, if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could've mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it," he told Axelrod on Monday. Obama's theory is not that far-fetched considering many people who voted for Trump also voted for him [2]; they were voting for change, which he represented, as opposed to a candidate.

Elaborating, Obama disagreed with the notion that holistically Americans are intolerant. "What I would argue is, is that the culture actually did shift," he said. "The majority does buy into the notion of a one America that is tolerant and diverse and open and full of energy and dynamism."

Unsurprisingly, Trump was quick to respond to the president's claim. Posting to Twitter, the president-elect wrote on Monday, "President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc."

President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016 [3]

President Obama campaigned hard (and personally) in the very important swing states, and lost.The voters wanted to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2016 [4]

While we can't predict the outcome of an Obama-Trump outcome, it should be noted that Obama's approval rating has hit a record high [5].