Obama ‘takes a swipe at Trump’ in shootings statement
Former president calls on US to reject racist language from leaders

Barack Obama has called on Americans to reject language from any of their leaders that feeds hatred or normalises racism, after 31 people died in mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.
Although the former US president did not name anyone, the BBC points out that his “rare comments” came after Donald Trump sought to “deflect” criticism that his “anti-immigrant rhetoric” had “fuelled violence”.
Obama’s words were a clear “swipe at Trump”, Buzzfeed says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In his statement released on Twitter, Obama said: “We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalises racist sentiments; leaders who demonise those who don't look like us, or suggest that other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other people as sub-human, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of people.”
He continued: “It has no place in our politics and our public life. And it's time for the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of every race and faith and political party, to say as much - clearly and unequivocally.”
The Atlantic praised Obama for rising to the moment, saying he “still sounds like a president”.
This is not the first time that the Democrat has criticised his White House successor. During a speech at the University of Illinois last year, he referred to Trump’s response to the deadly attack during a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville.
"We're supposed to stand up to discrimination, and we're sure as heck supposed to stand up clearly and unequivocally to Nazi sympathisers. How hard can that be, saying that Nazis are bad?"
In July, Obama tweeted a link to an article written by 149 black staffers who worked on his administration, criticising Trump after he said congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib should “go back” to their countries.
Obama released his latest statement after Trump responded to the mass shootings over the weekend. Speaking at the White House, the US president said “Mental illness and hate pull the trigger, not the gun.”
He continued: “In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy. These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America.”
He called for enhanced co-operation between government agencies and social media companies, reforms to mental health laws and the end of the “glorification of violence”.
He said the internet and “gruesome” video games promote violence in society, saying: “It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence.”
Responding to the president’s statement, CNN’s Zachary B. Wolf wrote that Trump blamed “everything but his own” words for hate in America.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Sudoku medium: May 27, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Sudoku hard: May 27, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
Angela Rayner: Labour's next leader?
Today's Big Question A leaked memo has sparked speculation that the deputy PM is positioning herself as the left-of-centre alternative to Keir Starmer
-
Donald Trump's foreign policy flip in the Middle East
Talking Point Surprise lifting of sanctions on Syria shows Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are now effectively 'dictating US foreign policy'
-
Elon Musk says he's 'done enough' political spending. What does that really mean?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The world's richest man predicted he'd do 'a lot less' electoral financing moving forward. Has Washington seen the last of the tech titan?
-
'Organ donation is kindness'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
GOP megabill would limit judicial oversight of Trump
speed read The domestic policy bill Republicans pushed through the House would protect the Trump administration from the consequences of violating court orders
-
Home energy: Bills are up, efficiency is out
Feature The Energy Star program saves Americans billions of dollars, but the Trump administration plans to 'eliminate' it.
-
Trump lectures South Africa president on 'white genocide'
speed read Trump has cut off aid to South Africa over his demonstrably false genocide claims
-
'These businesses have appealed to generations'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day