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Many of Trump's worst policies are expansions of Obama's. This complicates the narrative because, yes, Trump's presidency has been more destructive but Obama's made it possible. Some people point to Obama to whitewash Trump; others use Trump's escalations to whitewash Obama.
Trump's worse offenses, in no particular order, and how they connect to Obama:
1. Yemen. Trump's dealt hundreds of billions in weapons & provided air support to Saudi Arabia's genocidal war.
Obama dealt $115 billion in arms & provided Intel & refueling for the same purpose.
1. Yemen. Trump's dealt hundreds of billions in weapons & provided air support to Saudi Arabia's genocidal war.
Obama dealt $115 billion in arms & provided Intel & refueling for the same purpose.
Child separation.
Trump's role is clear but the Obama Administration built the cages holding migrant children. Child separation also happened, albeit it to a far smaller degree, under Obama.
Trump's role is clear but the Obama Administration built the cages holding migrant children. Child separation also happened, albeit it to a far smaller degree, under Obama.
Trump's tax cuts lowered the corporate rate to 21%, its lowest in ~80 years. But Obama operated within a Neoliberal frame and as Trump's tax returns showed, his administration hardly cracked down on loopholes for corporations or ultra-wealthy individuals.
Israel.
Trump's been a stooge for the far-right Israel lobby but it was Joe Biden who brokered the present $40 billion/decade-long arms deal.
Trump's been a stooge for the far-right Israel lobby but it was Joe Biden who brokered the present $40 billion/decade-long arms deal.
Drones.
Trump's advanced Obama's drone program to a chilling degree but it was already violent, unaccountable to Congress, in violation of International Law & led to a 90% civilian casualty rate.
Trump's advanced Obama's drone program to a chilling degree but it was already violent, unaccountable to Congress, in violation of International Law & led to a 90% civilian casualty rate.
The CARES Act.
A corporate bailout to further stratify wealth and advance consolidated power. But of course, CARES was bipartisan and highly reminiscent of the bailout efforts made under Obama following the 2008 crash. 6.1 million lost their homes as Obama bailed out the banks.
A corporate bailout to further stratify wealth and advance consolidated power. But of course, CARES was bipartisan and highly reminiscent of the bailout efforts made under Obama following the 2008 crash. 6.1 million lost their homes as Obama bailed out the banks.
Environmental Deregulation.
Trump's further deregulated environmental standards while ensuring the EPA remained tied to corporate interests. But Obama gave sweetheart deals to private equity groups like Carlyle & expanded oil drilling.
Trump's further deregulated environmental standards while ensuring the EPA remained tied to corporate interests. But Obama gave sweetheart deals to private equity groups like Carlyle & expanded oil drilling.
Minimum Wage.
Neither Trump nor Obama have increased the federal minimum wage above $7.25.
Neither Trump nor Obama have increased the federal minimum wage above $7.25.
The Surveillance State.
Assange faces extradition under the Espionage Act. Both Trump and Obama reaffirmed the powers granted by the PATRIOT Act. Obama was responsible for unconstitutional NSA spying.
Assange faces extradition under the Espionage Act. Both Trump and Obama reaffirmed the powers granted by the PATRIOT Act. Obama was responsible for unconstitutional NSA spying.
Regime Change.
Trump's fought restrictions from taking further military action against Iran & assassinated Soleimani.
But Obama refused to push for a repeal of the 2001 AUMF and leading the assassination of Gaddafi was both Unconstitutional & severely destabilizing.
Trump's fought restrictions from taking further military action against Iran & assassinated Soleimani.
But Obama refused to push for a repeal of the 2001 AUMF and leading the assassination of Gaddafi was both Unconstitutional & severely destabilizing.
Trade.
Trump's "New NAFTA" is seen as a marginal improvement at best and the trade deficit's only increased. But Obama pushed for TPP and expanded the trade deficit as well.
Trump's "New NAFTA" is seen as a marginal improvement at best and the trade deficit's only increased. But Obama pushed for TPP and expanded the trade deficit as well.
Afghanistan.
Trump's continued to maintain both a troop presence & drone program. His proposals to withdraw are undermined, which he deserves responsibility for (he's weak). Obama's administration had a troop surge & lied about operations in the country.
Trump's continued to maintain both a troop presence & drone program. His proposals to withdraw are undermined, which he deserves responsibility for (he's weak). Obama's administration had a troop surge & lied about operations in the country.
Labor.
Trump's wielded the NLRB as a union-buster and his court appointments are well within the Federalist Society playbook. Scalia's a joke.
Obama promised to pass card check & failed & his Citibank-approved cabinet kept real labor progress limited.
Trump's wielded the NLRB as a union-buster and his court appointments are well within the Federalist Society playbook. Scalia's a joke.
Obama promised to pass card check & failed & his Citibank-approved cabinet kept real labor progress limited.
CIA.
Trump nominated Gina Haspel, a pro-torture thug, to head the CIA & facilitate unaccountable acts of Imperial objectives. Obama's 2nd term head, John Brennan, is one of the most sinister Intelligence figures of my lifetime.
Trump nominated Gina Haspel, a pro-torture thug, to head the CIA & facilitate unaccountable acts of Imperial objectives. Obama's 2nd term head, John Brennan, is one of the most sinister Intelligence figures of my lifetime.
There's more. Here's a good thread detailing Obama's failings: https://twitter.com/eshaLegal/status/943234477156945920
So where does this leave us? Trump's been more overtly crooked than Obama, more prone to doing away with the technocratic sheen permeating policies that only reaffirm power...he's expanded on Obama's worst policies without really bothering to conceal it with niceties...
Some would argue in Trump's favor, the Empire unvarnished...but the increase in reactionary sentiments on the left & right since 2016 tells me there's no real utility to Trump saying the quiet part out loud.
Ultimately, they both did an immense amount of harm to this country and the world at large. Mainstream media will pin all the blame on Trump while right-wing media often misses Obama's real offenses in favor of idiotic culture war mewling.
Those painting Obama as representing anything better than a manager of Empire & its ugliest elements or Trump as a real threat to the Deep State are either misinformed or just lying. They were both awful & arguing over who was worse is like picking between leukemia & lung cancer.
