Obama "President Trump Stirs Resentment Against People of Color"

In the memoir "The Promised Land" published on the 17th, it is revealed like this
The first work as a memoir after retirement

▲Former U.S. President Barack Obama [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Former U.S. President Barack Obama fiercely criticized President Donald Trump in his soon-to-be-published memoir, "A Promised Land," accusing him of exploiting resentment toward people of color and xenophobia to build his support base.

On the 12th (local time), CNN obtained the 786-page memoir "A Promised Land," set to be released in five days, and reported accordingly.

Former President Obama wrote, "Trump stoked the fears of white people who felt threatened by the birth of the first Black president," adding, "It seemed that my presence in the White House triggered a fear inside, a feeling that the natural order was being disrupted."

He continued, "When Trump began spreading the claim that I was not born in the United States and therefore an illegitimate president, he already knew well," explaining, "To the millions of Americans frightened by the 'Black man in the White House,' Trump promised a remedy to their racial anxieties."

This means that Trump targeted the fear and anxiety white people felt toward people of color following the birth of the first Black president.

Former President Obama also criticized the Republican Party.

Referring to Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor, who was the vice-presidential candidate in the 2008 election backed by the hardline conservative faction 'Tea Party' within the GOP, he pointed out, "Through Palin, xenophobia, anti-intellectualism, delusional conspiracy theories, and resentment toward Black people and people of color that had been lurking around the Republican Party began to surface at the center."

He also said that the controversy over his birthplace raised by President Trump was an exaggerated version by the Republican Party aimed at appealing to white people's concerns about the first Black president.

Former President Obama wrote, "In that regard, there is little difference between John Boehner, who was the Republican House Speaker, and Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate Majority Leader," adding, "The only real difference is that Trump is unrestrained."

A notable passage praised the transition process he received from former President Bush.

He wrote, "President Bush did everything he could to ensure a smooth transition, whether out of respect for the institution, lessons from his father, bad memories of his own transition, or simply basic decency," adding, "He promised himself that when the time came, he would do the same for his successor."

However, the current situation where President Trump is not cooperating with President-elect Joe Biden's transition has drawn more attention.

Regarding Biden, who was his vice president, Obama said, "I liked that he was ready to serve as president if anything happened to me, and that he could reassure those worried that I was too young."

He added, "But most importantly, my intuition told me that Joe is dignified, honest, and loyal," and "He cares about ordinary people, and when things got tough, I could trust him."

Obama's memoir is his third, following 2006's "Dreams From My Father" and 2008's "The Audacity of Hope."

This is his first memoir after leaving office, and it is known that the Obamas received an advance of $65 million (approximately 72 billion KRW). Michelle Obama’s 2018 memoir "Becoming" was a bestseller.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.