Barack Obama delved into domestic politics Tuesday night in a way he rarely does – and the content was pretty remarkable.
Speaking to the Connecticut Forum in Hartford, the former president called for institutions, law firms, universities, members of both parties and even Justice Department figures to make “uncomfortable” sacrifices to defend a democracy he argued is increasingly under fire in President Donald Trump’s second term. He suggested, without ever using Trump’s name, that the US was “dangerously close” to a more autocratic government.
“What’s happening is that we now have a situation in which all of us are going to be tested in some way, and we are going to have to then decide what our commitments are,” Obama said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by his office.
“It will be uncomfortable for a time, but that’s how you know it’s a commitment – because you do it when it’s hard, not just when it’s easy, not just when it’s trendy, not just when it’s cool.”
Obama specifically cited how law firms that don’t cow to Trump will have to accept reduced billings — “which means you cannot remodel that kitchen in your house in the Hamptons this summer” — and businesses that resist the administration’s bullying may have to deal with retribution like politically oriented investigations or mergers being held up.
He even twice pointed to people who work in Trump’s Justice Department, painting them as a bulwark in upholding the Constitution in the face of the president’s threats.
It was a significant call for a broad-scale resistance from the most popular and significant Democratic figure of the 21st century. And it comes at an important time, as the grassroots have risen up in protest like they haven’t since the start of Trump’s first term, but as the party still faces a remarkable leadership vacuum.
His appearance, however, was also somewhat discordant.
If you haven’t heard much about Obama’s comments, there’s a reason for that. He chose to deliver them at an event at which audio and video recordings were prohibited. If the idea was to disseminate this clarion call to the broader public, it was a weird choice of venues.
Obama never uttered the word “Trump” once. Throughout his remarks, it was clear what he was talking about. But he opted for broad generalities rather than specifics about who and what are threatening democracy.
He did include winks and nods to what everyone likely knew he was talking about.
“I mean, 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 … our understanding of how a liberal democracy is supposed to work,” Obama said.
He also warned about government being “captured by those who, let’s say, have a weak attachment to democracy.”
After some cheers and applause, Obama said, “Well, I don’t even think that’s a controversial statement at this point … It was a controversial statement; now it is self-acknowledged.”
But is it self-acknowledged? Perhaps in a room full of people who would turn out to see Barack Obama.
In the rest of the country, not so much. A CNN poll conducted by SSRS last month showed about half of Americans (49%) said American democracy is “under attack.” That sounds like a lot, but it’s actually lower than most polls this decade.
Democrats have warmed to this argument, as Trump’s 2024 election has persuaded Republicans that democracy is in OK shape. But it’s still only about 7 in 10 Democrats who view this as an immediate threat. And the trend line for independents is pretty flat.
Obama’s appearance was very much in line with how former presidents are supposed to conduct themselves after leaving office. The norm is that they resist criticizing their successors and stay above the day-to-day fray. Obama has generally adhered to this, save for when he’s campaigned against Trump.
But the 44th president is also talking about a historic moment in which the very foundations of our democracy are under attack. He’s talking about how everyone needs to sacrifice in a historic moment, but he’s clearly reluctant to go too far in using his own platform – at least for now. He’s still clinging – to borrow a word – to the norms.
It harks back to the generals who served under Trump. Some of them spent years inching toward publicly warning that Trump was dangerous and even a fascist threat, treating the situation gently because generals aren’t supposed to get involved in politics.
Their comments faded quickly from the campaign in part because they seemed to want to them to. Many of these criticisms surfaced indirectly, in books. The generals weren’t out there giving TV interviews or press conferences. But that they didn’t really press their case undermined the idea that they really thought Trump was this threat.
Obama’s decision to more subtly register these comments also comes at a time when Democrats are practically begging for a voice of authority to consistently drive these kinds of messages. The party faces a leadership vacuum like we’ve rarely seen, which makes competing with Trump’s firehose of provocations much more difficult.
There is one figure who could seemingly fill that void instantly. A Gallup poll earlier this year showed Obama is by far the most popular living president, with 6 in 10 Americans and even 1 in 5 Republicans having a favorable opinion.
There are reasons for him to not want to get too involved, including so the next generation of Democratic leaders can assert themselves.
But for now, he seems reluctant to step too far outside his own comfort zone.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
