Former President Barack Obama didn’t hold back Tuesday as he delivered a rare message aimed at wealthy liberals. Speaking in Hartford, Connecticut, he warned that the days of comfort and moral high ground without consequence are over. "You did not have to pay a price," he said, reflecting on his own presidency.
Obama told the crowd that during his time in office, progressives could claim social consciousness without risking anything. They could live lavishly while still embracing progressive ideals. “You could still hang out in Aspen and Milan,” he said, “and think of yourself as a progressive.”
But now, he said, things are different. There will be tests. “We are going to have to decide what our commitments will be,” Obama told attendees. The implication was clear—activism may now come with a cost.
Obama avoided naming President Donald Trump directly but didn’t hide who he was referring to. His criticisms were veiled but unmistakable. The New York Times noted he pushed businesses, law firms, and universities to challenge Trump-era policies.
He joked that today’s progressives might face a loss of income or social standing for speaking out. “Your billings might drop a little bit,” Obama said. “Which means you cannot remodel that kitchen in your house in the Hamptons this summer.”
Over the weekend, Obama also addressed immigration in a pointed post on X. He defended DACA, the program his administration introduced to protect young undocumented immigrants. He said current policies are demonizing people who just want to live and work.
“DACA was an example of how we can be a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws,” Obama wrote. He added that families with similar stories are now being treated like enemies. The post drew sharp contrasts between his era and today’s.
Despite his comments, some on the left say Obama isn’t doing enough. Progressives are growing frustrated by what they see as silence in the face of Trump’s comeback. “It is heartbreaking,” said Adam Green of the Progressive Change Institute.
“He has that megaphone,” Green added. “But he’s not using it.” With 2024’s political battles heating up, Obama’s supporters want him to take a louder stance—and soon.