Barack Obama, Kamala Harris criticize Trump, White House over moves they say are against America's values [View all]
Source: ABC News
April 4, 2025, 5:12 PM
Former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris, in separate remarks on Thursday, criticized President Donald Trump and the White House for moves that they called unconstitutional or contributing to an erosion of the country's values. Neither Obama or Harris have spoken much publicly since Election Day in 2024.
Obama, in a speech at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, on Thursday, criticized the second Trump administration for levying new tariffs, for threats against universities and law firms, and for what he framed as upending the international order, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by a spokesperson and shared on Obama's Medium profile.
"Look, I don't think what we just witnessed in terms of economic policy and tariffs is going to be good for America, but that's a specific policy. I'm more deeply concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don't give up students who are exercising their right to free speech," Obama said during a discussion on how he feels the values of the United States have "eroded."
Obama added, "I am more troubled by the idea that a White House can say to law firms, 'If you represent parties that we don't like, we're going to pull all our business or bar you from representing people effectively.' That kind of behavior is contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans."
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/barack-obama-kamala-harris-criticize-trump-white-house/story?id=120499816