Three former presidents, Biden, Obama and Clinton have publicly criticized the actions of the current president Donald Trump’s administration all in the space of two weeks.
President Donald Trump continues to stir controversy, and his actions have prompted rare and pointed criticism from three of his predecessors from the Democratic Party.
Obama commends universities holding out against Trump
On April 3, 2025, Former President Barack Obama spoke at Hamilton College in New York. The 44th President urged universities and other institutions to push back against the Trump administration’s demands.
At another function on April 15, Obama also condemned Trump for cutting off the $2.3B federal funding for Harvard University. Obama referred to the decision as “unlawful and ham handed.”
The Ivy League school was asked to shut down its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which were referred to as civil rights violations. They were also charged with cracking down on antisemitism. The funds were frozen after the school refused.
Obama praised Harvard for setting an example for other institutions to resist federal pressure on its operations and practices.
During his speech in upstate New York, Obama urged those with the resources to take a stand.
“It is up to all of us to fix this,” he said. “It’s not going to be because somebody comes and saves you. The most important office in this democracy is the citizen, the ordinary person who says, ‘No, that’s not right.’”
Biden and Clinton have been vocal
While neither former president explicitly named Donald Trump, they both made their thoughts about the president’s actions and their effects on the American people known.
In Chicago on Tuesday, speaking at the national conference of Advocates, Counselors and Representatives for the Disabled, Biden criticized Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts to Social Security.
This event was the former president’s first significant public appearance since he left office. He accused the administration of endangering the benefits of 73 million seniors by cutting jobs at the Social Security Administration.
“In fewer than 100 days, this administration has caused so much damage and destruction. It’s breathtaking,” the former president said to a crowd of about 200 attendees. “They’re shooting first and aiming later. The result is a lot of needless pain and sleepless nights.”
Clinton on the other hand did not criticize the president’s administration directly. Instead, he commended the service of federal workers, who Trump is trying to put out of work at the moment.
He spoke at a ceremony in Oklahoma City dedicated to the 168 victims of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing.
During his speech, the ex-president made a case for humility, stating: “It does you good every now and then to admit you’re wrong.”
According to historians, ex-presidents do not typically comment publicly on their successor’s government due to the American tradition of seamless handovers and the principle that the country is run by one president at a time. Three presidents commenting on Trump in such a short period of time is unprecedented and also sets off warning bells, as no one is more qualified to spot issues in governance than those who have occupied the seat in the past.
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