Obama Warns U.S. ‘Dangerously Close’ to Autocracy in Rare Hartford Speech

Hartford, CT – Former President Barack Obama issued a stark warning about the state of American democracy during a rare public appearance at The Bushnell theater in Hartford on June 17, 2025. Addressing a packed audience at the Connecticut Forum alongside historian Heather Cox Richardson, Obama cautioned that the United States is “dangerously close” to embracing autocratic practices, citing a decline in democratic norms and institutions under the current administration.

Without directly naming President Donald Trump, Obama criticized recent government actions for showing a “weak commitment” to the democratic principles that have defined the nation since World War II. He referenced threats to the rule of law, judicial independence, and the right to protest, warning that such behavior risks normalizing autocratic tendencies. “If you follow regularly what is said by those who are in charge of the federal government right now, there is a weak commitment to what we understood… our understanding of how a liberal democracy is supposed to work,” Obama said.

Obama’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions, including the recent tackling of a Democratic senator during a news conference, threats of arrest against a Democratic governor, and the murder of a Democratic lawmaker and her spouse in Minnesota. He also alluded to the administration’s crackdown on immigration and the use of federal agents to detain Democratic officials, events that have sparked nationwide “No Kings” protests.

The former president urged elected officials, institutions, universities, and law firms to make “uncomfortable” sacrifices to defend democracy, even if it means facing financial or political repercussions. “It will be uncomfortable for a time, but that’s how you know it’s a commitment—because you do it when it’s hard, not just when it’s easy,” Obama stated.

Despite his grave concerns, Obama expressed optimism about the future, particularly encouraging young Americans to engage in constructive change and emphasizing the importance of building coalitions across differences. “Yes, I’m still an optimist. I’m still the hope guy,” he concluded, urging the next generation to remain impatient with injustice but to seek common ground to deliver lasting change.

Obama’s speech, notable for its directness and urgency, marks a significant departure from his typically reserved post-presidency, drawing renewed attention to his call for a recommitment to democratic values.