Barack Obama urged Americans, as well as universities and law firms, to resist Donald Trump’s political agenda and warned that they may need to make sacrifices in defense of democratic values.
Speaking at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, Obama emphasized that while it has been easy to advocate for progressivism and free speech without consequences, the current political climate requires a more active stance. He expressed concern over the Trump administration’s attempts to disrupt international systems established after World War II and its erosion of respectful ideological debate.
Obama also criticized the Trump administration’s policies, particularly its threats to withhold federal funding from universities that fail to comply with its stance on student protests. He pointed to the government’s efforts to influence academic freedom, referencing cases like those at Columbia University where federal funding was cut over protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He urged universities to stand firm in their commitment to free speech, even if it meant losing government funding.
Additionally, Obama questioned corporate law firms’ silence regarding executive orders affecting attorneys connected to prosecution efforts against Trump, highlighting the contrast between today’s response and the actions that would have been taken during his presidency.
