Barack Obama has expressed growing alarm about the trajectory of the United States under Donald Trump’s leadership, warning that the nation may be drifting away from its democratic roots. In a speech delivered in Hartford, Connecticut, Obama stated that the country is “dangerously close” to becoming an autocracy—a form of government in which one person holds unchecked power.

He referenced other countries, such as Hungary under Viktor Orbán, where elections take place but core democratic principles are eroded.

Since leaving office in 2017, Obama has largely stayed out of the spotlight, making only occasional public appearances. Nevertheless, he has not hesitated to speak out against some of Trump’s more controversial decisions, including defunding institutions like Harvard and implementing aggressive tariffs.

Now, his critique has deepened to a broader concern about the country’s democratic integrity, as he highlights parallels between current U.S. policies and those of authoritarian regimes.

Obama stressed that the warning signs of autocracy are becoming more visible in the U.S., especially in the federal government’s rhetoric and actions. He cited militarized responses to civil unrest and support for aggressive immigration enforcement as examples that compromise civil liberties.