U.S. President Barack Obama
U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks before signing the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act into law at the White House in Washington February 12, 2015. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Rudy Giuiani has alleged that U.S. President Barack Obama does not love America. The former New York mayor’s comment has put potential Republican presidential contenders in a situation where they have to strike a balance in criticising the U.S. president.

Giuliani earlier talked about Obama’s upbringing. He said that Obama had not been brought up through love of this country. “I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America,” Giuliani said at the 21 Club.

According to Giuliani, the United States is the “most exceptional country in the world” with all its flaws. He said that he would be looking for a presidential candidate who could express that, did that and carried it out. He addressed Scott Walker and said that he would endorse the Wisconsin Governor if he became a presidential candidate.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said that the level of the President's love for the country was immaterial at the moment. While he agreed with Giuliani on his intent, he said that Giuliani should have chosen different words to express himself.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio who may go for a presidential run reacted to Giuliani’s comments. He said that Obama’s policies were bad for the United States. However, he said that he had no doubt about Obama’s love for the country.

CNN reports that Scott Walker, whose event Giuliani attended while making the comment, refused to say anything about the comment. Walker said that he would not comment on what Obama thought. While Giuliani can speak for himself, the U.S. president can also speak for himself; he said.

According to GOP strategist Ford O'Connell, while Republican presidential candidates will criticise about Obama’s policies, they are likely to stay away from making personal attacks on him. "Regardless of political party, no one wants to criticize the sitting President in that way because it can be taken the wrong way by a lot of people," O'Connell said

O'Connell also said that there was a concern and an alarm out there about the nature of the threat from the Middle East. He was referring to a recent poll where the majority of Americans disapproved the U.S. president’s foreign policy and his way of handling militant groups like Islamic State.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@IBTimes.com.au