It hasn’t even been two weeks since he left the Oval Office, but former President Barack Obama can’t help himself.
If the country were a car, he’d be the backseat driver yelling instructions.
In this case, his instructions were simple — I encourage more unrest.
Following angry outbursts and reports of violence from radical leftists, Obama publicly praised the protesters who amassed across the country in opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration orders, breaking his silence on political issues for the first time since leaving office.
“The president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion,” Obama’s spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said.
In his first statement on behalf of the former president, Lewis said Obama was “heartened” by the amount of engagement taking place in U.S. communities. Lewis, a former White House official, pointed out that Obama used his last official speech as president to talk about Americans’ responsibility to be “guardians of our democracy,” even in nonelection years.
Critics say the words are dangerous. Encouraging further outbursts from protesters, who have already proven to be capable of shocking acts, could be interpreted by those who still admire the former president as a request for violence.
Trump said he took cues from Obama by temporarily banning travel to the U.S. from citizens of seven countries that Obama’s administration identified as places of terrorism concern.
Trump and the White House have vigorously disputed the notion that Trump’s order is a “Muslim ban.” Trump’s halts all refugee admissions for 120 days, suspends the Syrian refugee program indefinitely and also suspends entry to the U.S. from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days. But the White House has stressed that dozens of other Muslim-majority countries aren’t included.
Lewis’ comments mark the first time Obama has weighed in on Trump’s actions since Obama left office on Jan. 20. In his final weeks as president, Obama said he planned to follow George W. Bush’s example by giving his successor room to govern without being second-guessed.
That didn’t last long, did it?
The Associated Press contributed to this article