Obama Warns U.S. Teeters on Edge of Autocracy While Urging Hope and Civic Unity

 

Former President Barack Obama has voiced grave concerns about the direction of American democracy, warning that the country is “dangerously close to normalizing behavior” characteristic of authoritarian regimes. Speaking at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, Connecticut, Obama, 63, acknowledged the growing disillusionment among Americans as protests flare across the country in response to federal immigration crackdowns.

 

“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,” Obama said, according to Connecticut Public Radio. “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,’” he added.

 

In one of his starkest warnings yet, Obama stated, “What we're seeing right now… is not consistent with American democracy. It is consistent with autocracies.” He specifically cited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s regime as an example, saying, “It is consistent with Hungary under Orbán. It’s consistent with places that hold elections but do not otherwise observe what we think of as a fair system in which everybody’s voice matters and people have a seat at the table and nobody's above the law. We're not there yet completely, but I think that we are dangerously close to normalizing behavior like that.”

 

Obama also pointed to the widening gap between fact and fiction in American politics, especially within one of the major parties. “In 2020, one person won the election, and it wasn’t the guy complaining about it,” he said in reference to President Donald Trump’s repeated and disproven claims of election fraud. “And that's just a fact, just like my inauguration had more people... I don’t care, but facts are important.”

 

He criticized those who knowingly perpetuate falsehoods, saying, “In one of our major political parties, you have a whole bunch of people who know that's not true but will pretend like it is. And that is dangerous.” Obama referenced Trump’s first press secretary, Sean Spicer, who notoriously insisted that Trump’s inauguration crowd was the largest in history, despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary.

 

Despite the serious tone of his remarks, Obama maintained his trademark optimism, especially when addressing younger generations. When asked what message he had for young people, he replied, “I’m still optimistic – I’m still the ‘hope’ guy.” He urged the audience to be passionate but pragmatic.

 

“You have to be impatient with injustice and cruelty, and there’s a healthy outrage we should be exhibiting in terms of what’s currently happening both here and around the world. But if you want to deliver on change, then it’s a game of addition, not subtraction. You have to find ways to make common ground with people who don’t agree with you on everything but agree with you on some things.”

 

He closed his appearance on a hopeful note about the power of human connection. “When people actually meet and get to know each other... what Lincoln called those ‘better angels’ come out,” he said. “People start recognizing themselves in each other and they start trusting each other, and that's not just the basis for democracy, but that's the basis for our long-term salvation.”

 

Obama also took to social media earlier in the week to remind Americans of his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as the Trump administration’s immigration raids escalate. “Thirteen years ago, my administration acted to protect young people who were American in every single way but one: on paper,” he wrote on X. “DACA was an example of how we can be a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. And it’s an example worth remembering today, when families with similar backgrounds who just want to live, work, and support their communities, are being demonized and treated as enemies.”

 

“We can fix our broken immigration system while still recognizing our common humanity and treating each other with dignity and respect. In fact, it’s the only way we ever will,” he added.

 

Yet critics often point to Obama’s own record on immigration enforcement, noting that in 2013 alone, his administration deported 438,421 people — a figure unmatched by any other president since.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Independent  2025-06-20

 

 

Any lucid American of any political party should be gravely concerned for out democracy.

I think Obama has done enough to ruin the country. 

 

He’s just another has-been leftist buffoon trying to stay relevant. 

7 hours ago, Tug said:

Any lucid American of any political party should be gravely concerned for out democracy.

I’m very concerned, I the left takes the house in the midterms and the White House in 28, it will greatly harm our democracy. 

 

The free world is equally concerned with US declining democracy and heading towards authoritarism.  

2 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The free world is equally concerned with US declining democracy and heading towards authoritarism.  

Then hopefully, the free world will support the right in the coming midterms.

 

Why does the left claim to support democracy, but the never want to vote on any of their positions, like transing kids and open borders?

 

Why does the left not call a vote on whether people should be allowed to loot and riot and attack police and ICE officers? 

 

Why not vote on men in girls’s showers and sports? 

 

 

29 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Then hopefully, the free world will support the right in the coming midterms.

 

Why does the left claim to support democracy, but the never want to vote on any of their positions, like transing kids and open borders?

 

Why does the left not call a vote on whether people should be allowed to loot and riot and attack police and ICE officers? 

 

Why not vote on men in girls’s showers and sports? 

 

 

 

Tolerance and freedom of speech are the pillars of democracy and Trump has violated these essential democratic components with heavy-handedness, overeach and often illegal. Authoritarian regimes typically do not tolerate dissent or freedom of speech. Trump's regime is exhibiting those authoritarian characteristics. The free world support principles and beliefs associated with liberal democracies. Those were the values that was once American values too. Not now but fortunatey those who normalize Trump's authoritarian behavior are in the minority. 

31 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Then hopefully, the free world will support the right in the coming midterms.

 

Why does the left claim to support democracy, but the never want to vote on any of their positions, like transing kids and open borders?

 

Why does the left not call a vote on whether people should be allowed to loot and riot and attack police and ICE officers? 

 

Why not vote on men in girls’s showers and sports? 

 

 

 

They wouldn't even allow a proper process to determine who was their Presidential candidate. It was more like a coup. 

 

Although in fairness, "selecting" Kamala did turn out rather well. 😄

28 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

 

Tolerance and freedom of speech are the pillars of democracy and Trump has violated these essential democratic components with heavy-handedness, overeach and often illegal. Authoritarian regimes typically do not tolerate dissent or freedom of speech. Trump's regime is exhibiting those authoritarian characteristics. The free world support principles and beliefs associated with liberal democracies. Those were the values that was once American values too. Not now but fortunatey those who normalize Trump's authoritarian behavior are in the minority. 

I assume you wii not be proving any examples of Trump being an authoritarian, correct?

 

 

2 minutes ago, mogandave said:

I assume you wii not be proving any examples of Trump being an authoritarian, correct?

 

 

The idiom about leading the horse to drink …., perfectly summed up your state of mind. 

4 minutes ago, mogandave said:

I assume you wii not be proving any examples of Trump being an authoritarian, correct?

 

 

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/04/president-trumps-first-100-days-attacks-on-human-rights/

22 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

They wouldn't even allow a proper process to determine who was their Presidential candidate. It was more like a coup. 

 

Although in fairness, "selecting" Kamala did turn out rather well. 😄

In fairness, Trump won the election with the quarter of billion help from Elon. He practically won it for Trump. 

Its ok for Obama though.

 

"Obama-approved narratives must go unchallenged, according to Obama."

 

 

 

Obama is absolutely correct Trump wants nothing more than to be a dictator, and to have absolute power. His actions recently have shown a total overreaction to the Los Angeles riots, the bringing in of the National Guard, and the Marines, and countless other actions that this goon has taken, that show his autocratic tendencies. 

 

This is a very dangerous time in America and Trump is only helping to precipitate the decline that has already been happening for a long time now. 

25 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

In fairness, Trump won the election with the quarter of billion help from Elon. He practically won it for Trump. 

How much did Kamala spend?

The election was the pendulum swinging, the left pushed it that far. It looks like midterms wont change. Autocracy, yes obama its your fault

9 hours ago, Tug said:

Any lucid American of any political party should be gravely concerned for out democracy.

Yeah TUG - He is the one who started the decline with his 'Transformation.'  All dictators and Marxist use the hell out of the word Democracy.  But they always have you on their side.

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

The free world is equally concerned with US declining democracy and heading towards authoritarism.  

 

Sorry but there are 27 Amendments in the U.S. Constitution that cannot be ignored, revoked or denied. Take a look at Europe and see all the restrictions that have been placed on their residents. Name another country in the world that has  (1) Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Assemble 2.  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms 4. Unreasonable Search and Seizure Etc. Etc Etc.

 

Name another country in the world that has a Bill of Rights that offers the Freedom that all Americans have? 

34 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

In fairness, Trump won the election with the quarter of billion help from Elon. He practically won it for Trump. 

 

Harris spent more than Trump and still lost.

 

More irony here, Obamas deportation record.

 

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Yet critics often point to Obama’s own record on immigration enforcement, noting that in 2013 alone, his administration deported 438,421 people — a figure unmatched by any other president since.

 

The Obama administration deported a record 438,421 unauthorized immigrants in fiscal year 2013, continuing a streak of stepped up enforcement that has resulted in more than 2 million deportations since Obama took office, newly released Department of Homeland Security data show.

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/10/02/u-s-deportations-of-immigrants-reach-record-high-in-2013/

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Obama is absolutely correct Trump wants nothing more than to be a dictator, and to have absolute power. His actions recently have shown a total overreaction to the Los Angeles riots, the bringing in of the National Guard, and the Marines, and countless other actions that this goon has taken, that show his autocratic tendencies. 

 

This is a very dangerous time in America and Trump is only helping to precipitate the decline that has already been happening for a long time now. 

If you actually did your homework, you’d see that Trump brought in the Marines detachment to Guard the Federal Buildings. Trump has the authority to do so …

Sane people in the US and all over the world miss you.

51 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The idiom about leading the horse to drink …., perfectly summed up your state of mind. 

That’s what I thought, just another leftist regurgitating the leftist line.

 

carry on.

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

Why not vote on men in girls’s showers and sports? 

I thought it was only Trump in girls' locker rooms when he wasn't grabbing them by the hoohoo.

31 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its ok for Obama though.

 

"Obama-approved narratives must go unchallenged, according to Obama."

 

 

 

Facts seem to whatever the left says there are. 

 

Facts never have to be walked back.

 

 

 

 

11 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

Sane people in the US and all over the world miss you.

Leftists in the US (except his wife apparently) and leftists all over the world miss Obama. 

 

No one else. 

 

The saddest thing about Obama, is that he could have gone down in history as a truly great president.

Animal Farm

Per the left, trying to stop looting and rioting is authoritarian. 

25 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

Sane people in the US and all over the world miss you.

The vast minority. Democrat approval at 20 something %

17 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Leftists in the US (except his wife apparently) and leftists all over the world miss Obama. 

 

No one else. 

 

The saddest thing about Obama, is that he could have gone down in history as a truly great president.

No he couldnt, because hes dumb