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Obama Slams Trump's Troop Deployment as Threat to Democracy

10/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, calling it "inherently corrupting."
In a recent podcast, he argued that using the military against citizens undermines democracy and violates the Posse Comitatus Act.
He expressed concern that portraying crime as insurrection weakens democratic norms.
Obama noted media backlash if he had taken similar actions, and he said democratic institutions are damaged but not destroyed.

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Story summary

Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago, calling it "inherently corrupting."
In a recent podcast, he argued that using the military against citizens undermines democracy and violates the Posse Comitatus Act.
He expressed concern that portraying crime as insurrection weakens democratic norms.
Obama noted media backlash if he had taken similar actions, and he said democratic institutions are damaged but not destroyed.