In an unprecedented move, former US president Barack Obama has spoken out against his successor Donald Trump's immigration ban.
Obama, who left office less than two weeks ago, said he was "heartened" by the protests against the latest executive order barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.
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.
Although others, including Democrats and activists, have spoken against the "extreme vetting measures", it is rare for a former president to criticise his successors - much less just ten days out of office, says the Daily Telegraph.
It "indicated that Mr Obama felt compelled to speak out swiftly against what he sees as a misguided start to a new administration", says the New York Times.
Customarily, outgoing presidents and their administrations allow some form of grace period to their replacement. However, Obama warned at his last press conference on 18 January that he would not be afraid to speak out against the new administration if he thought "the nations ideals were under threat".
Trump's executive order bans people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the US for 90 days and halts refuges from entering the country for 120 days. Syrian refugees will be banned from the US indefinitely.
Britons with dual citizenship are exempt.
It has been greeted with protests across the US and in the UK.
-
Rothermere’s Telegraph takeover: ‘a right-leaning media powerhouse’Talking Point Deal gives Daily Mail and General Trust more than 50% of circulation in the UK newspaper market
-
The US-Saudi relationship: too big to fail?Talking Point With the Saudis investing $1 trillion into the US, and Trump granting them ‘major non-Nato ally’ status, for now the two countries need each other
-
Sudoku medium: November 30, 2025The daily medium sudoku puzzle from The Week
-
The US-Saudi relationship: too big to fail?
Talking Point With the Saudis investing $1 trillion into the US, and Trump granting them ‘major non-Nato ally’ status, for now the two countries need each other
-
Could Trump run for a third term?The Explainer Constitutional amendment limits US presidents to two terms, but Trump diehards claim there is a loophole
-
Why do Republicans fear immigration raids in North Carolina?Today’s Big Question Trump’s aggressive enforcement sparks backlash worries
-
Trump’s Ukraine peace talks advance amid leaked callSpeed Read Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Russia next week
-
Memo signals Trump review of 233k refugeesSpeed Read The memo also ordered all green card applications for the refugees to be halted
-
Judge tosses Trump DOJ cases against Comey, JamesSpeed Read Both cases could potentially be brought again
-
X’s location update exposes international troll industryIn the Spotlight Social media platform’s new transparency feature reveals ‘scope and geographical breadth’ of accounts spreading misinformation
-
Tariffs: Will Trump’s reversal lower prices?Feature Retailers may not pass on the savings from tariff reductions to consumers
