At the Connecticut Forum on June 17, former President Barack Obama warned that the United States is edging dangerously close to autocracy. He criticized former President Donald Trump’s leadership, pointing to a weakening commitment to democratic principles, especially in the administration’s handling of anti-ICE protests. Obama said these actions reflect a broader erosion of checks and balances and threaten the rule of law.

Drawing comparisons to autocratic regimes like Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, Obama explained that autocracy concentrates power in one leader’s hands—leaving citizens with little voice and government institutions stripped of independence. He stressed that such a system is fundamentally at odds with American democracy.

Despite the grim warning, Obama struck a hopeful tone, especially toward younger generations. He urged them to stay passionate about justice but also to work together across differences. “Change is a game of addition, not subtraction,” he said, calling for unity rather than division.

His speech came in the wake of the “No Kings” protests, which demanded stronger democratic safeguards. While applauding grassroots activism, Obama also urged bipartisan political leaders to push back against anti-democratic behavior. Still, critics have pointed out that Obama’s own administration deported more people annually than Trump’s, complicating the discussion.