Barack Obama, the former president of the United States, has openly criticized Donald Trump’s move to deploy troops in Chicago.
This decision has alarmed many, as President Trump hints at using a very old law known as the Insurrection Act. This law permits the President to deploy military forces inside the United States under certain circumstances.
Currently, Trump’s focus seems to be on Democratic-led cities, rather than those under Republican leadership.
Recently, in response to what he termed a ‘crime emergency’ in August, Trump deployed 800 National Guard members into Washington D.C., sparking considerable criticism. He didn’t stop there, also sending troops to places such as Chicago and Los Angeles.
Amid these rising political tensions, Obama shared his thoughts on October 13, during the final episode of Marc Maron’s WTF Podcast.
Obama expressed, “When you have militaries that can direct force against their own people, it is inherently corrupting.”
He further remarked, “We’re truly being tested right now. People, especially young people, are beginning to recognize that our choices have consequences. Choosing not to vote is a decision that comes with its own consequences.”
He added a thoughtful critique: “You can’t continually lecture others without acknowledging your own blind spots.”
Maron then moved the conversation to how some of Obama’s supporters felt about the Biden administration’s policies regarding the situation in Israel.
Obama responded to some discontent among voters at that time, suggesting that in a democracy, such divergence should be considered a “partial win.”
Obama used a vivid hypothetical scenario: “What if I sent the National Guard into Texas, not taking into account what Governor Abbott says, and just kind of took charge?”
It’s quite a thought.
Fox News would have probably run around-the-clock emergency coverage with a countdown to “Tyranny Day.”
But when it comes to Trump… pic.twitter.com/JcTPRRTrbR
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) October 15, 2025
Obama then pondered how the media might react if he had ordered the National Guard to do what Trump is currently enforcing.
He speculated, “If I had sent in the National Guard to Texas, saying, ‘You know what? There are a lot of issues in Dallas, high crime rates, and I don’t care what Governor Abbott thinks. I’m going to oversee law enforcement because things seem out of control,’ it’s astonishing to imagine how Fox News might have responded.”
For a long time, Fox News has had Trump as a regular guest on their programs.
The White House, through spokesperson Abigail Jackson, responded to Obama’s comments with a statement issued to Axios. She stated, “Whether it’s fostering international peace, restoring safety in dangerous cities, or building a strong economy, President Trump has made America shine again—regardless of what Barack Hussein Obama might think about it.”
