Obama Critiques Trump’s Deployment of National Guard
Former President Barack Obama expressed strong disapproval of President Donald Trump’s use of the National Guard to address crime issues in cities governed by Democrats, labeling it as “inherently corrupt.” He suggested that conservative media would have reacted differently if he had made a similar move during his presidency.
During a recent podcast episode with comedian Marc Maron, Obama voiced his frustrations over Trump’s leadership. He emphasized the dangers of a military that can employ force against American citizens, stating, “When you have a military that can use force against your own people, you’re inherently corrupt.” He noted that Trump’s actions imply a troubling politicization of the military.
Obama elaborated on Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to various cities, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Memphis, and Chicago, which he claimed violates the Posse Comitatus Act. This 1878 law restricts the use of the military in domestic law enforcement unless there’s a significant emergency. He remarked that framing regular crime as riots or terrorism threatens democratic understanding.
He went on to speculate how the media, particularly Fox News, might have reacted if he had sent the National Guard to Dallas against Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s wishes. “If you had sent the National Guard to Texas… That’s mind-boggling to me,” he said, implying that the response would have been intense.
In another segment of the podcast, Obama described Trump’s law enforcement strategies as un-American, stating, “That’s not who we are… That’s not our idea of America.” He expressed a preference for community-oriented policing, where officers are familiar with local residents, instead of militarized forces on the streets.
Obama also criticized the notion of “kangaroo courts” and fabricated charges, pointing out that such issues arise in other places as well.
