Former President Barack Obama expressed his “deep concern” regarding various actions taken by President Donald Trump and his administration, hinting at a lack of pushback from the Republican Party.
Obama criticized Trump without mentioning him directly, addressing the federal government’s intimidation tactics against universities and students exercising their free speech, as well as the targeting of law firms and the newly imposed tariffs on foreign nations.
“I don’t believe the economic policies and tariffs we’ve seen recently are beneficial for America, but that’s a specific issue,” Obama remarked during his speech at Hamilton College in New York. “What concerns me more is a federal government that threatens universities if they refuse to disclose students who are exercising their rights to free speech,” he stated.
Obama expressed his worry over a White House that attacks law firms representing ideas or parties contrary to its views, and highlighted how the administration has punished media outlets. Trump has enacted executive orders affecting prominent law firms and attorneys, causing outrage in the legal community. Moreover, the White House has restricted The Associated Press from coverage for not referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
“Such behavior contradicts the fundamental agreement we uphold as Americans,” he noted.
Obama suggested that Republicans would have reacted strongly had he engaged in similar conduct during his presidency.
“Just imagine if I had revoked Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps,” he remarked, adding, “It’s hard to believe that the same individuals who remain silent now would have accepted such actions from me or many of my predecessors.”
He emphasized, “I am not speaking from a partisan perspective. This is about something far more valuable, which is our identity as a nation and the principles we uphold.”
In concluding his address, he reminded everyone that “history has its ups and downs—and while there are moments of conflict, foolishness, and peril, we must strive to stay resilient.”
“Don’t lose hope,” he encouraged. “I understand things may seem chaotic right now, but we will be alright.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also voiced her concerns regarding the Trump administration at the Leading Women Defined Summit in California on Thursday. She stated that the nation is witnessing a “rollback of progress” and a growing “sense of fear” nationwide.
“We are observing those who are yielding to blatantly unconstitutional threats,” she remarked. “These are the realities we encounter every day in recent months across our country, understandably fostering a significant sense of fear.”
Harris, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight since her defeat to Trump in the November presidential election, noted that “fear has a way of spreading,” but also asserted that “courage is similarly infectious.”
The White House did not respond quickly to a request for comments regarding their statements.
Michele Norris contributed.
