Obama’s Growing Anxiety About America’s Future
Barack Obama once believed America would endure Donald Trump. He’s less certain now.
Eight years after leaving office, the 44th president still commands attention and influence — drawing crowds, advising Democratic leaders, and raising money — but friends say a sense of darkness and anxiety has crept into his once-optimistic vision.
After largely stepping back during Biden’s presidency, Obama and his aides are reconsidering his quiet role as Trump’s return and his efforts to undermine democratic institutions push Obama toward more visible engagement. “The harm is so profound,” said former Attorney General Eric Holder. “This calls for a different approach — and a different involvement — by President Obama.”
Obama is back on the campaign trail for moderate Democrats like Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, but what troubles him most is what to do beyond elections. Now 64, he’s confronting a divided, polarized country far removed from the one he imagined two decades ago.
He’s urging business and political leaders not to bend to Trump and preparing for legal and constitutional showdowns, from potential attacks on the Voting Rights Act to possible attempts by Trump to extend his term. “He doesn’t want to be the leader of the party,” said one ally, “but he feels like he has to speak his mind.”
Obama’s enduring appeal still makes him Democrats’ most effective messenger — even as younger voters see him as a figure from another era. “We all have to accept when we’re not the coolest anymore,” said California Assemblymember Isaac Bryan.
Still, Obama is testing how to guide the next generation while defending democracy. His missteps — such as comments during the 2024 campaign that alienated some Black voters — have made him cautious but more determined to challenge disinformation and authoritarian rhetoric.
Recently, he’s reemerged at global forums and private strategy sessions with rising Democrats and progressive activists, seeking ways to keep hope alive amid mounting threats. “He can’t run again,” said strategist Faiz Shakir, “but he’s asking himself if he still understands what Americans are thinking — and what it will take to save democracy.”