Former President Barack Obama said the United States is at “an inflection point” following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He criticized President Donald Trump for further dividing the nation instead of uniting it.
“There are no ifs, ands, or buts: democracy depends on being able to disagree without turning to violence,” Obama said during an event in Erie, Pennsylvania. “Even if someone is on the opposite side of an argument, threats and violence affect all of us. We must condemn them clearly and openly.”
Obama has maintained a low profile since leaving office. On Tuesday, he addressed Trump’s rhetoric after Kirk’s death and other controversial decisions by the current administration.
The former president reflected on his leadership after the 2015 Charleston church shooting, which claimed nine Black parishioners’ lives, and Republican President George W. Bush’s actions after the Sept. 11 attacks. He emphasized that a president’s role in a crisis is to remind Americans of the ties that bind them together.
He noted that Trump and his aides’ language toward political opponents, calling them “vermin” or “enemies,” highlights a broader problem in political discourse.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, a major conservative organization based in Arizona, had become a close ally of Trump. After Kirk’s death, Trump intensified his attacks on the “radical left,” raising concerns that the administration is using outrage over the killing to suppress opposition.
The White House responded to Obama’s remarks by criticizing him, calling the former president “the architect of modern political division in America.” A spokeswoman said Obama “used every opportunity to sow division, and more Americans now see him as dividing the country than uniting it.”
Obama also addressed Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Washington and ID checks by federal agents in Los Angeles. He urged citizens and leaders to closely watch these actions, warning that traditional presidential norms are being challenged.
“What you’re seeing is a sense that through executive power, guardrails that presidents like George Bush and I followed are now being ignored. That makes this a dangerous moment,” he said.
Following Kirk’s death, Obama wrote on social media that he and his wife, Michelle, were praying for Kirk’s family. He stressed that violence has no place in democracy, despite disagreeing with many of Kirk’s political views.
“Disagreement does not erase the tragedy or the grief of the family,” Obama said, highlighting that political violence is “anathema to democracy.” He also referenced the June shooting deaths of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband.
Obama praised Utah Governor Spencer Cox for promoting civility in the public response to Kirk’s death. Despite political differences, Cox’s messaging demonstrated that respectful disagreement is possible while maintaining a basic code for public debate.
The 22-year-old suspect in Kirk’s killing appeared in court on charges including capital murder. Authorities revealed text messages in which the suspect admitted to the shooting. A judge will appoint an attorney for him, while his family declined to comment.
Obama’s remarks underline growing concerns over political violence and the importance of leaders promoting unity and civil discourse in the United States.
