Former President Barack Obama took subtle aim at President Donald Trump during a Tuesday night interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, warning that the politicization of the criminal justice system is a threat American democracy cannot survive. Without naming Trump directly, Obama suggested the current president has broken longstanding unwritten rules of the office.
Obama Calls for Codifying Norms
“We’re going to have to do some work to return to this basic norm, and we probably now have to codify it,” Obama said. “The White House shouldn’t be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever the president wants prosecuted.” This remark appeared to reference attempts by Trump’s Justice Department to target political opponents, such as former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Democracy Can Survive Bad Policy, Not a Weaponized Justice System
Obama acknowledged that democracy can overcome challenges like bad policy or “funky” elections, but drew a firm line at using the justice system for political gain. “You can’t have a situation where whoever is in charge starts using that to go after their political enemies. Or reward their friends,” he said.
Without naming Trump, Obama offered pointed suggestions: “Maybe don’t pardon people who have given you a bunch of campaign contributions. Or invested in your businesses. Restoring some sense of the Justice Department being independent and making judgments about specific cases and prosecutions.”
Parallels to Trump’s Second Term
Though Obama never mentioned Trump by name during the lengthy interview, the abuses he listed align with actions Trump has taken during his second term, including politicizing the military and using the presidency for personal financial gain.
