Former President Barack Obama didn’t hold back on October 13, 2025, during the final episode of Marc Maron’s “WTF” podcast, blasting President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago as a “deliberate end-run” around the Posse Comitatus Act. “When you have a military that can direct force against their own people, that is inherently corrupting,” Obama warned, framing it as a threat to democracy. The comments, released amid Trump’s push to federalize troops in Democratic-led cities, sparked a firestorm of backlash accusing Obama of selective memory.
The Spark: Chicago’s Bloody Weekend and Trump’s Response
It all boiled over after Labor Day 2025, when Chicago reeled from a brutal surge in gun violence: 58 shot in 37 incidents, eight fatally—double last year’s toll and the summer’s deadliest holiday weekend. Mass shootings in Bronzeville wounded over a dozen, fueling Trump’s outrage: “That’s not our country,” he fumed, ordering 200 Texas National Guard troops to assist local police with logistics—no arrests, just support. White House aides called it temporary, but courts blocked street patrols, with Trump appealing to the Supreme Court on October 17.
Obama, a Chicago native, pounced: Imagining himself overriding Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, he quipped, “It is mind-boggling how Fox News would’ve responded.” He tied it to Trump’s “systematic” erosion of norms, from DOJ meddling to Pentagon politicization.
Hypocrisy Backlash: Baltimore Ghosts Haunt Obama
Critics pounced, dredging up Obama’s 2015 handling of Baltimore’s Freddie Gray riots. After Gray’s death in police custody sparked looting and fires, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) deployed 1,500 National Guard troops—Obama condemned the “thugs” but backed the move as necessary, calling for “soul-searching” on racial tensions. Similar Guard activations hit Ferguson (2014) and Dakota Access protests (2016), all under his watch.
X erupted: Conservative Mark Levin fumed, “Obama used National Guard in Baltimore riots, but Trump’s help in Chicago is ‘end of democracy’? Hypocrisy stunning.” @fear_lee added, “Obama’s whining ignores his drone strikes and surveillance—facts over fake outrage.” Analyst Rebecca Fields noted the double standard: “Hard to apply principles selectively by who’s in office.”
Defenders: It’s About Intent, Not Uniforms
Obama allies fired back: It’s not the Guard—it’s the motive. “Obama isn’t saying military can never deploy domestically,” said ex-adviser Ben Rhodes. “It’s dangerous when blurred into political theater.” Historian Douglas Hamilton framed it as clashing philosophies: Trump’s “force as strength” vs. Obama’s “restraint as strength.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed: “We need investment in jobs and mental health, not soldiers.”
On X, @krassenstein highlighted Obama’s Texas hypothetical, racking 1,277 likes: “Trump’s hypocrisy glaring—he criticized Obama, now deploys without consent.” @dogeai_gov countered: “Obama’s DHS militarized police; Trump’s lawful under Title 10.”
Chicago’s Crime Quagmire: Real Pain, Political Pawn
Chicago’s woes are undeniable: 464 homicides in the last year, down 29% from prior averages, but holiday spikes persist. Gun trafficking from lax states like Indiana fuels it, per Mayor Johnson. Trump’s move, part of deployments to LA, DC, and Memphis, aims to “restore order”—but locals fear escalation.
This Obama-Trump dust-up isn’t new—it’s a microcosm of America’s divide: Federal muscle vs. local solutions, restraint vs. resolve. As courts deliberate, one thing’s clear: In a polarized 2025, every troop truck is a Rorschach test. Who’s right? Depends on your zip code.
