Obama Warns of U.S. Democratic Backslide Toward Authoritarianism
In a stark address, the former president urges Americans to resist normalization of autocratic governance and defend constitutional principles.
Watan-Former U.S. President Barack Obama issued an unprecedented warning about the erosion of democracy in the United States, stating that the country is now “dangerously close” to becoming a system resembling authoritarian regimes.
During an event in Hartford, Connecticut, Obama stressed that American democracy is “not self-sustaining,” but rather depends on the genuine commitment of government officials—particularly judges, Justice Department employees, and all those who have sworn to uphold the Constitution.
He pointed out that the liberal principles upon which American democracy was built after World War II are “under real threat by those in power today,” warning that current developments increasingly resemble authoritarian models like the regime in Hungary under Viktor Orbán.
Obama added:“We haven’t fully reached that stage yet, but we’re getting closer than we should. The real danger is that this kind of governance becomes normalized and accepted.”
The former president called on citizens and officials to take a clear stand against this trajectory, saying:“We must rise up and say: We will not allow ourselves to fall off the edge—because climbing back will be extremely difficult.”
He concluded by emphasizing that “true loyalty to constitutional principles is tested in difficult times, not when things are easy”—a direct reference to what he described as a “critical phase” for American democracy.
