Ohio Gov. John Kasich expressed disapproval of President Trump's comments regarding the pipe bomb scare that targeted high-profile Democrats this week, saying, "We expect more from the leader of our country."

The Republican, a longtime critic of Trump's, accused the president of dividing and frightening people for political gain in an interview with CNN on Thursday.

[Also read: Trump: Others can criticize, but when I do I'm 'not presidential']

"You can say we have problems and beat them down and frighten them. Or you can say, 'We have problems. But guess what? Together, we can pull out of it. We can fix it.' That's called giving hope," he said.

Kasich said he had initially praised the president's remarks at a campaign rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday, which Trump began by saying people needed to work together and calling for unity.

"But then, don't pivot around and start attacking the press, calling them the enemy of the people. That's just uncalled for and not appropriate," Kasich said.

Kasich said that the president plays to his base and avoids taking responsibility for his language. Trump has been widely criticized for his attacks on the press, including his praise last week for Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte, who body-slammed a reporter last year.