Summary
Barack Obama sharply criticized Donald Trumpās presidency during a speech at Hamilton College, condemning attacks on the press, immigration crackdowns, and threats to civil liberties.
He called it āunimaginableā that Trumpās actionsāsuch as barring the AP and threatening law firmsāwould have been tolerated under past presidents.
Obama warned that Trumpās behavior, though āgoofy,ā poses real danger, and he labeled Trump a āwannabe dictator.ā
He also referenced former Trump aide John Kellyās āfascistā remark and urged Americans not to mistake chaos for leadership.
Oh my god shut the fuck up about it being āunimaginableā. They published the playbook online for anyone to see in 2020. They said they would follow the playbook. They are now following the playbook. They are completing sections of the playbook as written. They will continue to complete sections of the playbook as written, until they are either done executing the playbook, or removed from power somehow. None of this is a surprise. You are not allowed to be surprised by this.
This is a straw man. Obama was not saying that nobody knew what project 2025 was planning. Heās saying that prior presidents could never have gotten away with behaving in ways that Trump behaves, and doing things that Trump does.