Former President Barack Obama expressed alarm over what he termed “dangerous trends” emerging from Trump administration policies, which he believes threaten American liberties. He stressed these issues should be a concern for citizens across the political spectrum.

Obama specifically highlighted a podcast interview discussing Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the National Guard to cities like New York and Chicago. He shared these concerns on social media platform X.

He warned that the interview detailed a troubling move toward the federalization and militarization of local law enforcement. Obama stated these actions erode foundational principles, including due process.

The increased use of military力量 on domestic soil, he argued, puts the freedoms of all Americans at risk. This perspective was met with immediate pushback from the White House.

A White House spokesperson dismissed Obama’s comments, accusing him of having previously weaponized the government against his political opponents. She asserted that President Trump is working to restore integrity to the government.

Meanwhile, Trump has signaled a federal crackdown on crime, specifically criticizing Chicago’s violence on his Truth Social platform. He questioned why Illinois Governor JB Pritzker had not requested his assistance.

In response, Governor Pritzker and other local Democratic leaders strongly resisted the idea of federal intervention. Pritzker explicitly told Trump he was neither wanted nor needed in Chicago.