Barack Obama and Donald Trump have long been at odds politically, dating back to Trump’s first term as U.S. president.
In a recent interview, Obama revealed that his continued efforts to speak out against Trump and some of his policies have placed a degree of strain on his marriage to Michelle Obama.
According to the former president, Michelle would prefer that he ease up on politics and spend more time with her, as he continues trying to balance public engagement with family life.
Barack Obama Says Trump Has Created ‘Genuine Tension’ In Marriage
Despite it being more than a decade since he left the White House, Obama still appears deeply involved in various political efforts. This has especially been the case during Trump’s second term, which has seen several controversial policies draw public attention.
However, continuing to serve as a prominent political voice against Trump comes with personal challenges, particularly within his marriage to Michelle Obama.
According to the former president, his ongoing political involvement has created “genuine tension” in their household and has also frustrated Michelle, who had hoped leaving the White House would mark the end of the phase in his life heavily centered around politics and campaigning.
“She wants to see her husband easing up and spending more time with her, enjoying what remains of our lives,” Obama said, per The Independent.
Obama Explains Why He Doesn’t Publicly Attack Trump More Often
Much of Obama’s role as a voice against Trump’s policies comes through behind-the-scenes efforts, including campaigning for fellow Democrats, cutting political ads, and even supporting initiatives aimed at redrawing congressional districts.
He acknowledged that he could be doing more publicly, such as becoming a political commentator, but said he has no interest in taking on that type of role because it would fundamentally change how people view him as a political leader.
“For me to function like Jon Stewart, even once a week, just going off, just ripping what was happening, then I’m not a political leader, I’m a commentator,” Obama said, while making clear he still values Stewart’s work.
Barack Obama Reveals Frustration Over Public Perception
While he remains proud of the work he is currently doing behind the scenes, Obama acknowledged that many Democrats are often unaware of those efforts.
For the former president, that reality can be frustrating, particularly because he understands the significance of his contributions in today’s political landscape, where Republicans currently wield considerable influence.
“The media environment is so difficult,” he confessed. “People don’t even know all the stuff I am doing, right? And, I think, when they do see me, then the sense is, ‘Well, why isn’t he doing that every day instead of just during a midterm election, or during a referendum campaign around gerrymandering, or what have you?’”
Obama Criticized Donald Trump’s Alleged Misuse Of The Justice System
One of the rare occasions Obama stepped out from behind the scenes to take an apparent swipe at Trump came during a recent interview with Stephen Colbert.
Although he did not directly mention Trump by name, the retired politician pointed to what he described as a repeated abuse of power by presidents, per Forbes.
Obama argued that such actions are especially dangerous because, while the country can survive things like “bad policy” and even “funky elections,” it cannot withstand the “politicization of the criminal justice system.”
He further stressed that the Attorney General should serve as the “people’s lawyer,” not the president’s “consigliere.”
Barack Obama Also Raised Concerns About Presidential Pardons
The conversation later shifted to Trump’s use of presidential pardons, particularly the individuals who benefited from them.
During his first term, Trump issued pardons and commutations to several allies, political supporters, and individuals with personal or professional ties to him, including Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon, and Charles Kushner.
Reflecting on the matter, Obama said presidents should avoid “rewarding friends” who find themselves in legal trouble.
“Maybe don’t pardon people who have given you a bunch of campaign contributions or invested in your businesses,” Obama emphasized.
He also admitted that changing such behavior would likely be “harder to change,” seemingly referring to the enduring temptation for presidents to use their authority in ways that serve their own interests.