Former President Barack Obama has issued a grave warning about the future of the United States under the leadership of Donald Trump, stating that the country is “dangerously close” to becoming an autocracy.
Speaking at the Connecticut Forum on Tuesday, June 17, Obama voiced concerns over what he sees as a weakening commitment to democratic principles under the current administration. He warned against the normalization of anti-democratic behavior, pointing specifically to the federal government’s response to the anti-ICE protests that had spread across the country.
Obama remarked, “If you follow regularly what is said by those who are in charge of the federal government right now, there is a weak commitment to what we understood— and not just my generation, at least since World War II—our understanding of how a liberal democracy is supposed to work.”
A Call for Action Against Autocratic Behavior
Obama stressed the importance of resistance from both civil society and government institutions to prevent the further erosion of democratic norms. “There has to be a response and pushback from civil society, from various institutions and individuals outside of government, but there also have to be people in government in both parties who say, ‘No, you can’t do that,’” Obama said, adding, “What we’re seeing right now… is not consistent with American democracy. It is consistent with autocracies.”
He pointed to examples of countries like Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, where elections are held but democratic norms are undermined, and citizens’ voices are not given equal weight in decision-making processes. Obama warned, “We’re not there yet completely, but I think that we are dangerously close to normalizing behavior like that.”
What Is Autocracy?
Autocracy, as Obama described it, is a form of government in which a single leader holds absolute power and is not held accountable by advisors, the judicial system, or the press. In such systems, citizens have no say in the making or enforcement of laws, and the concept of checks and balances is often absent.
While Obama expressed concern about the direction the country is headed, he remains optimistic. Referring to himself as the “hope guy,” Obama encouraged younger generations to remain passionate about fighting injustice but to focus on creating common ground to achieve meaningful change.
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Hope for the Future
In his speech, Obama said that while it’s important to be outraged by cruelty and injustice, true change comes from uniting people across political divides. “If you want to deliver on change, then it’s a game of addition, not subtraction,” Obama said, emphasizing the need for collaboration with those who may not agree on everything but who share some common values.
Obama’s remarks came shortly after the nationwide “No Kings” protests, which rallied against authoritarian governance. He praised the public resistance but also called for elected leaders to do more to defend the country’s democratic institutions.
Despite the challenges, Obama remains hopeful and urges the public to continue working toward protecting the nation’s core values and freedoms.
A Message of Resistance and Unity
Obama’s speech serves as both a warning and a call to action for all Americans to stand firm in their commitment to democracy and to push back against any attempts to erode the freedoms and rights that define the country. The former president’s message underscores the importance of unity, action, and resilience in the face of rising autocratic tendencies.
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