Ben Carson says that Barack Obama "grew up white"

Ben Carson doesn't think Barack Obama understands the black experience. (Alex Wong/Getty)

Ben Carson isn't convinced that President Barack Obama truly understands the black experience.

Dr Carson claimed that President Obama was raised white and said that his understanding of the black experience is "a bit of a stretch."

“I mean, like most Americans, I was proud that we broke the color barrier when he was elected, but I also recognize that his experience and my experience are night-and-day different. He didn't grow up like I grew up by any stretch of the imagination,” the 64-year-old told Politico.

“He's an 'African' American. He was, you know, raised white. Many of his formative years were spent in Indonesia," he added. "So, for him to, you know, claim that, you know, he identifies with the experience of black Americans, I think, is a bit of a stretch."

President Obama was raised by his white mother and step-father in Indonesia and later Hawaii.

Later, Dr Carson appeared on MSNBC to further elaborate on his comments claiming that President Obama "grew up in white America."

"Doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that when the claim is made that he represents the black experience, it’s just not true," he said.

The comments are odd for Dr Carson considering his campaign views calls for racial justice in America an attempt to divide citizens and a distraction from real issues.