President Barack Obama has been quiet in the 10 days since he left office, offering his predecessor wide latitude to get his administration started before being subject to criticism, as is customary.
The silence ended today, though, as Obama’s spokesman issued a statement in support of the protests that have cropped up around the nation in response to Trump’s executive order effectively banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
“President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country. In his final official speech as President, he spoke about the important role of citizen and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy–not just during an election but every day,” Kevin Lewis, Obama’s spokesman, said. “Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.”
Obama said he’d continue to avoid criticizing specific policies and proposals, but would comment on larger issues.
“As an American citizen who cares deeply about our country, if there are issues that have less to do with the specifics of some legislative proposal or battle, but go to core questions about our values and our ideals, and if I think that it’s necessary or helpful for me to defend those ideals, then I’ll examine it when it comes,” Obama said.
