As Barack Obama Rallies for Democrats, the Party Is Reminded of What It Lost

The brilliance and charisma of the former U.S. president make him the party’s dream candidate – if only he could run again.

Abigail Spanberger and Barack Obama in Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday. Photograph: Steve Helber/AP

“It’s not like we didn’t see some of this coming,” Barack Obama said, his trademark humor carrying a weary edge. “I’ll admit—it’s even worse than I thought it would be. But I did warn y’all!”

The audience inside a packed sports arena in Norfolk, Virginia, half-laughed and half-groaned at his familiar cadence. “No, really,” he added with a wry smile. “You can run the tape.”

He wasn’t kidding. Throughout 2024, Obama had been warning Americans about what a Trump return to the White House would bring. Yet, a year ago this week, Donald Trump was elected once more.

And so, one of the many ripple effects of that outcome is the unexpected return of Barack Obama to America’s political spotlight. Gone are the days when former presidents would quietly retreat to write memoirs, manage foundations, and carefully avoid criticizing their successors. That tradition, like so many others, has vanished.

According to a list released by his office, Obama has made 25 public appearances or issued 25 statements in the past six months. He’s spoken on issues ranging from USAID reform to redistricting to public health. In many ways, he’s stepping into the void left by Joe Biden, who turns 83 this month and whose presence on the political stage has noticeably diminished.

Now, Obama is back on the campaign trail—stumping for Democratic candidates running for governor in Virginia and New Jersey. It’s given him an unofficial platform to deliver what sounds like an alternative “State of the Union” speech, and this time, he’s pulling no punches.

When more than 7,000 Democrats packed the Norfolk arena to hear candidate Abigail Spanberger announce that Obama would soon take the stage, the energy was electric. It was a reminder of something the party hasn’t had in years: a leader who could match Trump’s star power with authenticity, intellect, and charm.

The rally in Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday. Photograph: Steve Helber/AP

“We love you!” someone shouted, echoing the fervor often seen at Trump rallies. “We miss you!”

Behind the stage, a massive American flag filled the backdrop while supporters waved smaller flags and signs in the air. Yet, the contrast between Obama and Trump couldn’t have been starker. Trump’s familiar uniform—orange-tinted hair, navy suit, white shirt, red tie—was replaced by Obama’s rolled-up sleeves, open-collar blue shirt, and silver hair. Trump often mimics a stand-up act; Obama is one—only sharper.

Freed from the need to protect his own political ambitions, Obama seemed to relish every moment of his return. His humor was biting, his tone both fiery and reflective—like a man testing out new material for late-night television.

“It’s hard to know where to begin,” he said, the crowd hanging on every word. “Because every day, this White House serves up a new batch of lawlessness, recklessness, meanness—and just plain craziness.”

Each accusation drew a roar of applause. It was the kind of plainspoken truth Democrats have long wished more of their leaders could deliver.

Obama then catalogued Trump’s long list of abuses: weaponizing the Justice Department against opponents, replacing career prosecutors with political loyalists, firing decorated military officers for their loyalty to the Constitution instead of him, deploying the National Guard to cities to combat imaginary crime waves, and unleashing ICE agents in unmarked vans to grab people off the streets—including U.S. citizens.

He cited a health secretary who rejects science in favor of quack cures, a senior aide branding Democrats as “domestic extremists,” and an economist fired for releasing bad jobs data.

“I mean, it’s like every day is Halloween,” Obama joked. “Except it’s all tricks—no treats.”

He also acknowledged that many Americans had voted for Trump out of frustration at inflation, rising gas prices, unaffordable housing, and a sense of insecurity about their children’s future. “So they took a chance,” he said. “I get that.”

The gamble, Obama argued, paid off handsomely—for Trump and his inner circle. His family made hundreds of millions through shady crypto ventures, and his wealthy allies saw their tax bills shrink. But for working Americans, things only worsened. Healthcare premiums are doubling or tripling, and the government is mired in dysfunction.

Abigail Spanberger and Barack Obama in Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday. Photograph: Steve Helber/AP

“As for the president,” Obama quipped, “he’s been laser-focused on critical priorities like paving over the Rose Garden so no one gets mud on their shoes, gold-plating the Oval Office, and building a $300 million ballroom.”

Then, grinning, he added, “So Virginia, here’s the good news: if you can’t see a doctor, don’t worry—he’ll save you a dance. And if you’re not invited to the next White House gala, you can always catch the highlights on Truth Social.”

The crowd erupted in laughter and applause. Obama was in rare form—playful, scathing, and devastatingly effective.

He turned his fire on the broader Republican strategy: “They love putting on a big show—deporting people, attacking transgender Americans, blaming minorities and DEI for every single problem under the sun.”

Then, with a grin, “Got a flat tire? DEI. Wife mad at you?”

The crowd shouted back in unison: “DEI!”

It was political theater at its sharpest—a reminder that humor, when wielded skillfully, can be a weapon as powerful as policy. It’s the same reason conservatives rail against late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel or why Gavin Newsom’s barbs infuriate the right.

Obama didn’t stop there. He mocked Trump’s bizarre AI-generated videos on Truth Social—clips showing the former president wearing a crown, flying a fighter jet, and dumping brown sludge on protesters labeled “No Kings.”

“All this nonsense we see—every over-the-top rant, every fake conspiracy, every weird video of a U.S. president wearing a crown and flying a fighter jet while dumping poop on citizens—it’s all meant to distract you,” Obama said. “To keep you from noticing that your life hasn’t gotten better.”

And there it was: the man once celebrated for “Hope and Change,” for “Yes We Can,” for insisting there is not a liberal America or a conservative America but the United States of America, was now, years later, saying the word “poop” from a political stage when they go low, indeed.

But after the laughter, Obama returned to his purpose. He praised Spanberger as a leader of substance and conviction and urged Virginians to vote for her.

His speech was a masterclass in balance—mixing wit, wisdom, and righteous indignation. It reminded Americans of what they once had: a leader who could inspire with words and uplift through clarity, humor, and hope.

And for Democrats, it was a bittersweet realization. The person most capable of taking the fight to Trump in 2028—the one who embodies both competence and charisma—is the very man who can’t run again.