Former U.S. President Barack Obama has criticised the immigration enforcement approach associated with President Donald Trump, warning that sweeping crackdowns and expanded executive powers risk pushing governance toward what he described as autocratic-style practices.
Obama made the remarks during an interview with a liberal podcaster, Brian Tyler Cohen, on Saturday.
The former US President argued that border enforcement must be balanced with constitutional safeguards and due process protections. He said democracies are tested by their ability to maintain civil liberties while addressing security concerns, cautioning against policies that rely heavily on executive force and institutional pressure.
His comments came amid renewed controversy following a recent social media post from Trump’s account that featured a manipulated image depicting Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with ape imagery.
The post drew backlash from civil rights groups and political opponents, who described it as offensive and racially charged. Trump supporters, however, dismissed the criticism, characterising the post as political satire aimed at rivals.
Obama did not directly reference the image but warned more broadly about political rhetoric and tactics that, in his words, “dehumanise opponents and normalize extreme portrayals,” saying such trends weaken democratic culture and public trust.
“The rogue behaviours of the agents of the Federal Government is deeply concerning and dangerous. We should take a moment to appreciate the extraordinary ourpouring of organising community buiilding, decency, citizens sayingn this is not the America we believe in and we are gonna fight back and pushback with peaceful protests and shning a light on this sort of behaviour that iin the past we see in autoritarian countries and dictationship that we are now seeing in America.”
Obama commended the ‘heroics sustained behaviour’ of Americans and ordinary, especially in Minnesota who defied ICE and Trump in a wide, but mostly peaceful protest, even in subzero weather, as hope-giving.
Trump and his allies have continued to defend the administration’s tougher immigration measures, saying stricter detention rules, faster removals and tighter border controls are necessary to protect national security and enforce existing laws. They argue that strong enforcement reflects voter mandates rather than authoritarian intent.
The episode has intensified an already sharp divide over immigration policy and political discourse in the United States. Advocacy organisations say both enforcement policy and public messaging matter, warning that inflammatory portrayals of political figures and migrant communities can fuel polarization and discrimination.
Legal and policy analysts note that immigration enforcement remains one of the most contested areas of executive authority, with courts frequently called upon to define limits around detention, deportation and due process.
Obama urged lawmakers to pursue comprehensive legislative reform alongside border management, saying lasting solutions require statutory clarity, legal migration pathways and institutional accountability — not enforcement alone.
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