Obama was/is an accomplished orator and a man of grace, charm, and integrity, but I am not certain that history will judge him to be a distinguished president. He is however revered by most of those who regard themselves as fair and liberal-minded. Most of these folk believe fervently that they are wholeheartedly on the side of right.
It has entirely escaped their notice that there are even more people who feel swept aside by the social revolution that has taken place (on both sides of the Atlantic, and in much of Europe) without them being actively consulted. The political and managerial "intelligentsia" have hijacked decision-making and claimed to be doing so in what they deemed the best interests of all strata of society. What we are seeing from recent politics is the backlash. It will be played out again in 2017 in the elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany.
Trump, Farage, Le Pen, AfD and Geert Wilders et al speak for vast numbers who feel their needs have been systematically ignored in favour of the metropolitan classes with degrees, professional jobs and liberal/correct politics. Their glossy simplistic statements focus on what hits the left-behind close to home: zero hours contracts; NMW work, part-time jobs; housing, health, education and transport policies that make life harder, not easier.
Right wing politicians are seen as apologists for global businesses and bankers' cronies; more left-leaning politicians are so busy being right on they have nothing substantive to say on everyday real life issues.
The demagogues have stepped into the gap.