At a recent private fundraiser in New Jersey, former President Barack Obama sharply criticized major U.S. law firms for capitulating to the Trump administration out of self-interest. According to Business Insider, Obama accused elite legal institutions of abandoning their principles—not out of fear of legal consequences, but to preserve their careers and affluent lifestyles. “They might not be able to finish that kitchen rehab at their Hampton house,” Obama said pointedly. “I’m not impressed,” he added, as reported by MSNBC.
Obama, who has personal ties to Big Law from his time at Harvard Law School and his early legal work in Chicago, specifically called out top firms like Paul Weiss and Kirkland & Ellis. These firms had opted to cooperate with Trump’s executive orders that accused certain legal institutions of weaponizing the judicial system, stripped them of security clearances, and subjected them to contract reviews. While some firms pushed back, others agreed to provide pro bono legal work for conservative causes in order to maintain favor.
In addition to law firms, Obama criticized universities for caving to political pressure. He pointed to Columbia University’s decision to comply with Trump administration demands after the school faced a $400 million cut in federal funding. The administration justified the cut by accusing Columbia of failing to address antisemitism during campus protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Obama also voiced concern about the broader political climate. Speaking at The Connecticut Forum, he warned that the U.S. is “dangerously close” to normalizing authoritarian behavior under Trump. While he stopped short of calling it a full descent into autocracy, he emphasized that such behavior is becoming alarmingly accepted in American politics.
Meanwhile, former President Joe Biden addressed Republican criticism over his use of an autopen to sign clemency orders. In an interview with The New York Times, Biden explained that he approved the criteria for pardons but did not personally sign or review each case. His staff used the autopen to execute the largest single-day act of clemency by any U.S. president—over 1,500 individuals—citing efficiency and procedural necessity.
