Quoted from The Washington Post
According to (The Washington Post) on the 20th, a rare scene has emerged in American politics in just over two weeks: three Democratic former presidents, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton, publicly condemned the Trump administration and its policies. Historians have noted that it is unusual for former presidents to publicly criticize their successors, and the simultaneous actions of three former presidents in such a short time may be 'unprecedented.'
This January, former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden attended the funeral of Jimmy Carter. Source: American media
(The Washington Post) states that Obama delivered a speech at Hamilton College, a well-known American institution, on April 3, where he opposed the Trump administration's attacks on American colleges and other institutions, stating, 'Addressing these issues requires all of us.' On April 15, Biden delivered his first public speech after leaving office in Chicago, criticizing the Trump administration's federal agency cuts for causing 'such tremendous harm and destruction.' On April 19, Clinton spoke in Oklahoma City, comparing the unity of the city with the current social divisions in the U.S., and acknowledged the service of federal workers amidst significant downsizing of federal agencies.
Reports suggest that Obama, Biden, and Clinton all seemed shocked by the chaotic start of Trump's second term. Clinton stated at the end of his speech on the 19th that the U.S. has many institutions and assets. He asked, 'Are we really going to put them at risk to prove that we are always right? Is our resentment more important than that of others?'
(The Washington Post) analysis states that in just over two weeks, three former U.S. Presidents have taken to the public stage to warn against the Trump administration and its policies, which is quite rare. After all, it is customary for former presidents not to publicly criticize their successors. Reports indicate that Obama, Biden, and Clinton, while not explicitly mentioning Trump's name, conveyed an unmistakable attitude. These three Democrats indicated through their actions and words that the U.S. is facing extraordinary times, with existing norms being disregarded, requiring extraordinary measures.
The report also states that since Trump's inauguration, the only living former president who has not spoken out is Republican George W. Bush, although his dissatisfaction with Trump is almost common knowledge.
Naftali, a historian at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, stated: 'Former U.S. Presidents have a unique identity; they are qualified and capable of speaking out. If the nation is heading into danger, they must warn the American people. They can be seen as an advisory committee for the American people. When the advisory committee sounds the alarm, the public should listen.'