Barack Obama has issued a stark warning about the state of US democracy – and it points directly at Donald Trump.
Speaking in Connecticut this week, the former president said America is teetering on the edge of autocracy, thanks to what he described as a “weak commitment” to democratic values by those currently in power.
While he never said Trump’s name directly, the reference was clear. The comments come as the twice-impeached, criminally convicted former president continues to face criticism for inciting the January 6 coup attempt and for his administration’s divisive policies.
🗣️ “If you regularly follow what’s being said by those in charge of the federal government right now, there’s a weak commitment to how a liberal democracy is supposed to work,” Obama said.
“It requires people to take that oath seriously – and when that doesn’t happen, we start drifting into something else. Something closer to autocracy.”
😬 ‘We’re not there yet… but we’re close’
Obama compared the current political atmosphere in the US to Hungary under authoritarian leader Viktor Orbán, warning that normalising anti-democratic behaviour could push the country over a point of no return.
“We’re not there yet completely,” he said, “but we are dangerously close.”
He urged people inside and outside of government to speak out before it’s too late: “Let’s not go over that cliff – because it’s hard to recover.”
⚖️ What about Biden’s policies?
The speech wasn’t recorded, but according to CNN and the New York Times, Obama was sounding the alarm without getting too party-political. Still, the shadow of Trump loomed large.
He called on Americans to commit to defending democracy, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular.
“It’s a commitment when you do it not just when it’s easy, trendy or cool,” he added.
🚩 Political tensions are boiling over
Obama’s warning comes at a time of rising political unrest in the US.
Trump, who recently hosted a controversial $45 million military parade, has faced comparisons to leaders of authoritarian regimes.
Meanwhile, his hardline immigration policies have led to protests in all 50 states – with some Democratic politicians even being arrested for taking part.
In recent weeks, two Democratic lawmakers and their partners were shot in what police believe were politically motivated attacks.
🎯 The bigger picture
Although Obama was once criticised for high deportation rates during his own presidency, he now finds himself cast as a voice of reason and a guardian of democratic norms in contrast to Trump’s increasingly extreme behaviour.
The warning may be subtle, but its meaning is loud and clear: America’s democratic future is hanging in the balance.
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