Former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered searing critiques of President Donald Trump’s second term in separate public appearances on Thursday. Speaking at Hamilton College, Obama expressed grave concerns about the administration’s approach to governance, civil liberties, and legal norms. Meanwhile, Harris spoke at the Leading Women Defined Summit, highlighting the fear and silence spreading across institutions since Trump’s return to the White House.
According to CNN, during a candid conversation on stage, Obama denounced the president’s ongoing efforts to reshape federal institutions, suppress dissent, and undermine both the press and the legal system. “This is the first time I’ve spoken out publicly in a while,” Obama said. “But I’ve been watching closely.” He questioned the silence from Trump’s supporters, saying, “Imagine if I had done any of this. It’s unimaginable that the same people who are quiet now would have let it slide if I or my predecessors had acted this way.”
Obama also criticized Trump’s new economic policies, particularly a recently announced tariff plan. While he acknowledged the potential harm it could cause the U.S. economy, he stressed that the greater danger lies in attacks on civil rights. “When a federal government threatens universities for protecting free speech or pressures law firms based on who they represent, it goes against everything we stand for as Americans,” Obama told the audience of students.
Vice President Harris, speaking separately, also addressed Trump’s return, saying many of his recent actions were expected. “There were things we anticipated,” she said, before noting with a smile, “I’m not here to say I told you so.” In her remarks, she said that the administration’s behavior has triggered “a great sense of fear” across the nation, especially as organizations and individuals appear to be yielding to pressure from the White House.
This week, Trump revealed a controversial deal with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the law firm where Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, works. The firm reportedly agreed to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services during Trump’s second term. Emhoff, speaking before the announcement, warned that the rule of law and democracy itself are “under attack,” urging fellow attorneys to stand firm in defense of justice.
In her most direct comments since leaving office, Harris concluded by emphasizing the emotional toll Trump’s presidency is having. “Fear is contagious,” she said. “But so is courage.” Addressing a room full of women of color in leadership, she urged them to resist the spread of fear and instead lead with bravery, insisting that courage can spark a powerful chain reaction across the country.
