Former US President Barack Obama criticized Donald Trump’s new tariffs and federal budget cuts, threatening that America’s democratic principles are under threat. In a speech at Hamilton College in New York, Obama called on Americans to make their voices heard and stand ready to sacrifice for their fundamental values. His speech came in the wake of Trump’s comprehensive tariff announcement and mounting pressure on US universities over student protests and free speech.
Obama Slams Trump Tariffs as Recession Looms
Trump’s tariffs shook Wall Street. Markets plummeted, and economists predicted a coming recession. Obama vehemently opposed the action, saying it puts an unfair burden on working-class Americans. His concerns extended beyond the economic implications, though.
For much of our lives, it’s been convenient to claim that you believe in free speech or social justice and not suffer a consequence,” Obama said. Now, he warned, Americans are going to have to be willing to actually take risks to stand up for what’s right. “It’s up to all of us to repair this,” he added. “The citizen, the ordinary person who says: ‘No, that’s not right.'”
Universities Under Political Pressure Over Speech
Obama also denounced Trump’s warning to reduce federal funding for colleges that do not support conservative agendas. He indicated that the government is putting pressure on schools, particularly on issues involving student protests and campus speech.
He named Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton specifically—universities that are now under federal audit. At the same time, the government has moved against pro-Palestinian demonstrators. “If you’re just being intimidated,” Obama said, “then say: ‘That’s why we have this big endowment.'”
He urged universities to stand firm on their principles. They must resist political intimidation, even if it comes at a cost. “It’s not enough to say you’re for something,” Obama concluded. “You may have to do something.”
Ultimately, Obama’s speech wasn’t just a critique. It served as a warning—and a powerful call to defend the soul of American democracy.
