‘Imagine if I had done any of this’: Barack Obama breaks silence after Trump announces tariff hikes plan

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Barack Obama has finally broken his silence, and he didn’t mince words.

While speaking at Hamilton College on Thursday, April 3, 2025, Obama offered a sharp critique of Donald Trump’s second-term policies, taking aim at the president’s newly introduced tariff plan, which has stirred significant controversy, CNN reported.

Barack Obama slams Donald Trump’s latest tariff move

Barack Obama began by saying, “So, this is the first time I've been speaking publicly for a while,” explaining that he had been watching events unfold quietly from the sidelines. 

The former president then asked the audience at Hamilton College, “Imagine if I had done any of this?” as per his Medium blog. 

Obama didn’t just criticize the policy, he took aim at the hypocrisy that surrounds it. "It’s unimaginable that the same parties who are silent now would’ve tolerated behavior like that from me, or a whole bunch of my predecessors."

Obama warned that these economic decisions are dangerous. Trump’s newly announced tariff proposal has already caused economic tremors. Wall Street took a nosedive, with $2.5 trillion in market value wiped out, as per CNN.

Meanwhile, China is threatening a brutal 34% tariff on American imports. Economists fear the fallout will crush low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes the hardest.

Speaking about the recent arrests of university students who led protests on campuses, Obama said, “I'm more deeply concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don't give up students who are exercising their right to free speech,” he said.

“The idea that a White House can say to law firms, if you represent parties that we don't like, we're going to pull all our business or bar you from representing people effectively,” the former president added.

 “That kind of behavior is contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans,” Obama said.

During the 2024 campaign, long before Trump’s return to office, Obama repeatedly cautioned Americans about the risks of re-electing him. At the time, he remarked, “Just because (Trump) acts goofy doesn't mean his presidency won't be dangerous.”

Barack Obama opens up about marriage struggles post-presidency

Barack Obama confessed that his time in office came with personal costs particularly to his marriage. During the same event hosted by Hamilton College president Steven Tepper, Obama reflected on the quiet but significant strain that two presidential terms placed on his relationship with his wife Michelle Obama.

“I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” said the 63-year-old leader, according to the Daily Beast. “So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.”

Together since October 1992, the Obamas have recently become the subject of swirling divorce rumors. 

Speculation started gaining traction in January when Barack was spotted attending a series of major political events solo, including the funerals of former president Jimmy Carter and the inauguration of President Trump, prompting questions about trouble in the couple's relationship.