Washington: US President Barack Obama has poked fun at the Republican leadership for being "shocked" over the campaign narrative of its frontrunner Donald Trump, blaming the Republicans for creating the environment that helped in the rise of the billionaire businessman as a potential presidential candidate.

"We've got a debate inside the other party that is fantasy and schoolyard taunts and selling stuff like it's the Home Shopping Network," Obama said during a public meeting in Austin, Texas referring to the election campaign and rhetoric of the Republican presidential candidates.

"Then you've got the Republican establishment - they're very exercised: We're shocked that somebody would be saying these things. We're shocked that somebody is fanning anti- immigrant sentiment or anti-Muslim sentiment. We're shocked! We're shocked that somebody could be loose with the facts. Or distort someone's record -- shocked!" Obama said, referring to the campaign narrative of Trump.

"How can you be shocked?" asked Obama. "This is the guy, remember, who was sure that I was born in Kenya. Who just wouldn't let it go. All this same Republican establishment, they weren't saying nothing. As long as it was directed at me, they were fine with it. They thought it was a hoot. Wanted to get his endorsement. And then now, suddenly, we're shocked that there's gambling going on in this establishment," Obama added.

"I want to be very clear. There are thoughtful conservatives good people in the Republican Party, good people who are Republican voters who care about poverty and they care about climate, and don't resort to insults, and are troubled by what's happening inside their own party," he said.