Former President Barack Obama is facing mounting criticism from progressive Democrats who believe he isn't doing enough to oppose President Donald Trump's second term. Left-wing activists and consultants are calling for Obama to leverage his significant influence more effectively against the current administration.
According to Fox News, progressive leaders are expressing frustration that the former president has largely remained out of the spotlight since Trump won the election. While Obama campaigned for both President Biden before he dropped out and for Kamala Harris after she became the nominee, his public opposition to Trump has been limited.
Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Institute, expressed disappointment over Obama's relative silence. "There are many grandmas and Rachel Maddow viewers who have been more vocal in this moment than Barack Obama has," Green told The Atlantic, adding that it was "heartbreaking to see him sacrificing that megaphone when nobody else quite has it."
Democratic media consultant Tracy Sefl didn't mince words when discussing Obama's role in countering Trump. "Should Obama get out and do more? Yes, please," she told The Atlantic, before adding a more urgent plea: "Help us. We're sinking over here."
Obama has made some public statements opposing Trump, including remarks at an April event in New York where he accused the Trump administration of trying to destroy the post-World War II international order. During that speech, he suggested sacrifice might be necessary to fight back against Trump's agenda.
The former president also weighed in on conflicts between Harvard University and the Trump administration, praising his alma mater for standing up against the president. However, many progressives believe these occasional statements are insufficient, given the current political climate.
Obama's advisers defend his approach, suggesting that his selective engagement is intentional and strategically sound. They argue that overexposure could diminish the impact of his voice on critical issues.
Eric Schultz, an adviser to Obama, explained the rationale behind the former president's measured approach. "We try to preserve his voice so that when he does speak, it has impact," Schultz told The Atlantic. "There is a dilution factor that we're very aware of."
Former Attorney General Eric Holder similarly defended Obama's level of engagement while acknowledging the criticism. "Should he do more? Everybody can have their opinions," Holder said. "The one thing that always kind of pisses me off is when people say he's not out there, or that he's not doing things, that he's just retired, and we never hear from him. If you f------ look, folks, you would see that he's out there."
Some Democrats believe the party needs to develop new leadership rather than continually relying on Obama to be their standard-bearer. This perspective suggests a more fundamental question about the Democratic Party's future.
Jon Favreau, former Obama speechwriter and "Pod Save America" co-host, emphasized the need for fresh Democratic leadership. "The party needs new rising stars, and they need the room to figure out how to meet this moment, just like Obama figured out how to meet the moment 20 years ago," he told The Atlantic.
However, Favreau humorously noted a significant exception to this view, saying he would "be begging Obama to come out of retirement" if Trump attempted to run for a third term, highlighting the unique position Obama still holds in Democratic circles.
Progressive demands for Obama's increased involvement reflect broader concerns about effective opposition to Trump's second term. The situation highlights tensions within the Democratic Party about strategy and leadership.
Obama, who left office in 2017, has maintained a complex relationship with public political engagement since then. While he remains one of the most popular Democratic figures and a powerful voice within the party, he has largely followed the tradition of former presidents maintaining some distance from day-to-day politics.
For progressives concerned about Trump's policies and actions, this traditional restraint appears increasingly insufficient. They view Obama's relative silence as a missed opportunity to mobilize resistance at a critical moment in American politics.
