In a recent scathing address at the Exploratorium museum in San Francisco, former Vice President Al Gore condemned the actions of the Trump administration, drawing alarming comparisons to Nazi Germany. His speech prompted a blitz of criticism from the trio of ex-presidents. Joe Biden and Barack Obama, among others, have taken to publicly condemning the administration’s policies.
Gore’s speech highlighted a range of issues, emphasizing the administration’s plans to slash social security benefits. Biden criticized these plans, stating, “The last thing [beneficiaries] need from their government is deliberate cruelty.” This sentiment is indicative of increasingly alarmed public opinion among ordinary Americans who understand how devastating these kinds of cuts would be to our most vulnerable constituents.
Al Gore further asserted that the Trump administration has engaged in creating a “preferred version of reality,” echoing concerns raised by Obama. His statement that the administration’s actions are reminiscent of early 1930s Germany. Propaganda and misinformation were allowed to thrive, opening the door to a dangerous regime. “I understand very well why it is wrong to compare Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich to any other movement,” Gore said. “There are important lessons from the history of that emergent evil.”
The former vice president didn’t shy away from tackling the larger impact of the administration’s policies. In particular, he has zeroed in on making real progress on big issues such as climate change. He called out the administration for stopping America’s transition to green energy. He called out the idiotic assertions of those in government who declared climate change to be a hoax. “They say the climate crisis is a hoax invented by the Chinese to destroy American manufacturing,” Gore remarked, highlighting the absurdity of such assertions.
In his presidency, Barack Obama often pointed to this troubling reality. In less than 100 days, the Trump administration has done enough damage and devastation for a lifetime. He urged citizens to take action, stressing, “It is up to all of us to fix this … It’s not going to be because somebody comes and saves you.”
Bill Clinton had to return to stand with his fellow former presidents to denounce the administration’s cowardice. Their collaborative approach only deepens their opposition to what they believe is continued and coordinated attack on democratic values and institutions. This deepened the societal divide, as even Obama himself explicitly pointed out that the administration has unleashed assaults on higher education institutions.