Barack Obama is currently on a European speaking tour, making headlines with his recent remarks during an interview at the O2 Arena in London. The ex-U.S. president in conversation with historian David Olusoga, as they confront the growing brutality and polarization of American politics, both past and present. He focused in particular on Donald Trump’s claims about the miracle drug paracetamol. He took issue with the claimed connection between the drug and autism in babies.
In the course of that discussion, Obama argued that Trump’s claims are a form of violence—even “violence against the truth.” Moreover, he emphasized the dangers that such false claims present to pregnant women. Now, millions would rather forego taking necessary pain relief than due to fear of bad info. Obama had to remind everyone that all of these bogus claims have been debunked ad infinitum. He cautioned that they represent an enormous threat to public health.
In the context of his larger commentary, Obama was pointedly silent on calling out Trump by name, opting instead to refer to him as “my successor.” He articulated his concerns about an emerging “tug of war” in America. At the heart of this conflict is a battle between two competing visions for the nation’s future. One side, he argued, seeks to return to a conservative worldview that excludes many Americans, while the other strives for progressive change through democratic means.
Obama’s remarks also touched upon complacency among progressives in the 1990s and 2000s, warning that such attitudes could threaten the movement for social change. He stated:
“My successor has not been particularly shy about it. That desire is to go back to a very particular way of thinking about America, where ‘we, the people’, is just some people, not all people.”
The former president’s commentary couldn’t come at a worse time given the extreme incendiary political climate in the U.S. right now. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting walloped Obama’s comments as equally ridiculous as Trump’s nonsense about paracetamol. This short exchange illustrates how fraught the discourse on public health messaging and political rhetoric has become.
The Dublin stop on Obama’s new international speaking tour looks to be another thrilling night. On Thursday, he’ll be presented with the Freedom of Dublin! His outreach to global audiences, such as participants in the World Health Assembly, still showcases his willingness to tackle the most important challenges to our democracy and public health.
Obama responded firmly:
“It undermines public health … that can do harm to women.”
In reaction to the debate, London Mayor Sadiq Khan came out in defense of Obama’s view. …what this shows about Trump’s longer history of racism, sexism, Islamophobia and rhetoric.