Barack Obama and Donald trump

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s administration, accusing it of suppressing media freedom, targeting political opponents, and undermining democratic institutions.

In a discussion with Hamilton College President Steven Tepper, Obama expressed alarm over what he called “deeply troubling trends”, including the White House’s revocation of Associated Press credentials after the agency refused to use the term “Gulf of America”, a name Trump proposed in place of the Gulf of Mexico.

“It’s up to all of us to fix this,” Obama stated, underscoring the vital role of ordinary citizens in preserving democracy.

He also criticised the administration’s economic policies, including new tariffs and reduced funding for universities that maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes. The Department of Education recently ordered districts and states to ensure they are not running DEI initiatives, calling them discriminatory—an action Obama warned could erode academic freedom.

“What’s most troubling”, he said, “is the idea that the White House can intimidate law firms or revoke media access without consequence. Imagine if I had done any of these things.”

Obama stressed that such actions would have triggered outrage under his administration, noting the stark double standards in political reactions. “It’s unimaginable, the silence we see now,” he added.

On gun violence, Obama lamented the continued rise in shootings and called for stricter gun control, especially concerning semiautomatic weapons.

Reflecting on life after the presidency, Obama said he’s focused on the Obama Foundation, which mentors young leaders, and revealed he’s working on completing his presidential memoirs.