Obama Accuses Trump of Tyranny: ‘Imagine the Outrage If I Had Done This

In a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump’s presidency, former U.S. President Barack Obama accused the current administration of authoritarian behavior, alleging suppression of the press, attacks on political opponents, and a disturbing rollback of civil liberties.

Speaking during a conversation with Hamilton College President Steven Tepper, Obama condemned Trump’s reported order to revoke The Associated Press’s West Wing access after it refused to adopt the new term “Gulf of America,” following the president’s controversial rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico.

Obama warned that Trump’s policies—such as cutting university funding over diversity programs and threatening law firms that represent critics—pose a dangerous threat to democracy. “Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials,” Obama quipped, highlighting what he called glaring partisan double standards.

He also blasted the Department of Education’s directive targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, calling it a “chilling attack” on academic freedom and student rights.

The former president further criticized the GOP’s silence, suggesting that the same behavior under a Democratic administration would provoke national outrage. “This is not conservatism. This is creeping authoritarianism,” he warned.

Touching on America’s gun crisis, Obama denounced the continued inaction on firearm reform, particularly the prevalence of semi-automatic weapons.

Now focused on the Obama Foundation and his upcoming memoirs, the former president urged citizens to “fix what’s broken,” calling on everyday Americans to protect the democratic values under threat.