On Thursday, August 28, 2025, former President Barack Obama broke his silence to deliver a strong critique of President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy military forces in American cities. This marks Obama’s most direct criticism of Trump since leaving office.
Obama utilized social media to express his concerns about what he described as dangerous shifts in Trump’s approach to law enforcement nationwide. “The erosion of basic principles like due process and the expanding use of our military on domestic soil puts the liberties of all Americans at risk,” Obama wrote on X.
The former president highlighted an interview between New York Times writer Ezra Klein and journalist Radley Balko, titled “Trump Is Building His Own Paramilitary Force.” Obama stated that the interview reveals some dangerous trends involving the federalization and militarization of state and local police functions.
In the interview, Balko accused Trump of creating a personal army, using tactics, operations, and policies that he has been hesitant to warn about for the past two decades due to their extreme nature.
Balko cited Trump’s control over law enforcement in Washington, D.C., and the deployment of thousands of California National Guard troops to Los Angeles, California, during immigration protests as evidence of Trump’s increasing military influence.
Recently, Trump signed an order to form special National Guard units specifically for handling protests and civil unrest, roles traditionally managed by local police. Critics argue that this move dangerously assigns military forces to oversee American civilians.
Randy Manner, a former National Guard leader, criticized Trump’s plan as politically motivated, stating that Trump seeks Guard units “whose purpose is to dominate and police the American people,” which he finds concerning.
In Washington, D.C., National Guard members began carrying weapons this week following authorization from Trump’s defense secretary. Troops now patrol the nation’s capital with rifles and handguns, a sight that has caused alarm among many Americans.
Obama’s public critique signifies a notable departure from his usual post-presidency stance of refraining from engaging in political disputes with Trump. Since leaving office in 2017, Obama has largely avoided political confrontations, but recent developments have prompted him to speak out.
This week, Obama even paused his popular summer tradition of sharing music playlists, explaining on Instagram that he was too occupied “with everything going on right now.”
Obama’s criticism follows a July incident when Trump accused him of treason regarding the 2016 election investigation. Obama’s office responded, labeling Trump’s accusations as “outrageous” and typically choosing not to engage with the “constant nonsense” and misinformation from the White House.
The former president also supported California Governor Gavin Newsom’s opposition to Republican efforts to redraw voting districts in Texas, asserting that voters should select their politicians, not the reverse.
Trump’s recent actions reverse some of Obama’s policies from his presidency. In response to police in Ferguson, Missouri using military-style equipment against protesters in 2014, Obama prohibited local police from acquiring certain military gear. Trump rescinded those restrictions in 2017.
Currently, Trump aims to expand military power for federal agencies. His budget proposal allocates approximately $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including tens of billions for ICE over the next several years, while cutting funding for other law enforcement agencies.
Legal experts express concern that Trump’s actions may violate laws preventing the military from acting as police within the United States. The ACLU labeled the deployments unnecessary, inflammatory, and an abuse of power, emphasizing that the military should not police civilians. Critics acknowledge that such deployments are rare and controversial but note they are not unprecedented, citing Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957 and the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
Trump has suggested the possibility of deploying military forces to other cities, such as Chicago, Illinois, stating that his troops are ready to deploy within 24 hours if necessary, even without local leaders requesting federal assistance.
Social media users have commended Obama for speaking out more frequently, with one user noting that many people would benefit from hearing Obama’s voice in public more often.
Obama’s decision to openly challenge Trump underscores the seriousness with which he views the situation. Such direct criticism of a successor by a former president is rare, but Obama appears willing to break tradition to address what he perceives as threats to American democracy.
The ongoing tension between the current and former presidents emphasizes the growing debate over the extent of military power Trump should wield within U.S. borders. As Trump seeks greater federal control over local law enforcement, Obama warns of the potential threat to Americans’ rights.
