Obama Warns Students: Resist Intimidation Against Trump's Agenda
- Obama advocates increased opposition towards Trump's administrative measures
In a fiery speech to a crowd of over 5000 students at Hamilton College, former US President Barack Obama bluntly called for more resistance to the current administration, led by President Donald Trump. According to CNN, Obama publicly commented for the first time in a while, highlighting his concerns about the administration's attempts to intimidate opponents and silence dissenting voices.
Obama urged American citizens, universities, and law firms not to back down in the face of pressure. "It's up to us to solve our problems," Obama was quoted saying by CNN. "No one's coming to save us." He emphasized the crucial role of citizens in the democracy, stating, "The most important office in this democracy is the citizen."
Universities Under Fire: Obama's Advice
Law firms, facing the risk of losing clients due to increased pressure from the Trump administration, were urged to remain brave, as Obama put it. Trump has reportedly targeted several law firms whose lawyers have been involved in cases or investigations against him.
Universities, with their funding under threat due to diversity programs, should utilize their endowment funds or cut costs rather than caving to Trump's demands, Obama advised. Furthermore, Obama voiced concern over the government's threats against universities that refuse to punish students for expressing their right to free speech.
Harris' Call to Courage: Facing the Fears
Joining Obama in speaking out against current policies, former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris addressed an audience of women. Acknowledging the "great sense of fear" created by Trump's return, Harris called for courage. "There are things happening that we knew would happen," she said. "I'm not here to tell you I told you so," she added, laughing.
Notable Figures
- Barack Obama
- Donald Trump
- Kamala Harris
- CNN
- USA
- US President
- Democracy
Additional Insights (optional)
- Barack Obama
- Expresses deep concern over the Trump administration's threats to universities that allow students to exercise free speech. Urges universities to defend academic freedom, even if it means losing government funding or using their endowments[1][2].
- Criticizes Trump's use of executive orders to penalize law firms that represent clients opposed to the administration. Notes that Republicans would have been outraged if he had done the same during his presidency[1][2].
- Emphasizes the importance of standing up against policies that erode democratic values and the need for resilience in upholding core American ideals like free speech and an independent judiciary[1][2].
- Donald Trump
- Strips Columbia University of $400 million in federal grants due to concerns over pro-Palestinian protests, with similar actions being considered for other universities like Harvard and Princeton. Additionally, the Education Department is investigating several universities for alleged antisemitism[1].
- Signed executive orders targeting law firms involved in cases against his administration or representing his political opponents[2].
- Criticized for actions against media outlets, such as banning The Associated Press from White House events due to a naming dispute[2].
- Kamala Harris
- Speaks about the "progress being rolled back" and a "sense of fear" in the country due to recent policies. Emphasizes the need for courage in the face of unconstitutional threats and fear[2].
- No specific policies regarding universities or law firms were mentioned in her recent remarks, but she highlighted the general erosion of democratic principles[2].
- Barack Obama implored law firms to stand firm against intimidation, as he believes Trump's administration is targeting them due to their involvement in cases or investigations against him.
- In a speech, Kamala Harris, former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, expressed concern over the return of Donald Trump and the "sense of fear" his policies have created, calling for courage in the face of these unconstitutional threats.
- Obama advised universities to use their endowment funds or cut costs instead of caving to Trump's demands, as their funding is under threat due to diversity programs, and warned about the government's threats against universities refusing to punish students for expressing their right to free speech.
