Former President Barack Obama is reportedly “extremely concerned” about the impact of Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on his historical legacy, according to David Garrow, Obama’s biographer. In an interview with The Daily Mail, Garrow, author of the 2017 biography Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama, claimed that Trump’s win has dealt a significant blow to Obama’s standing.
“He has been and remains extremely concerned and nervous about his historical legacy,” Garrow stated. “That has certainly taken a big hit with Trump once again triumphing.”
Garrow suggested that the Democratic Party’s reliance on figures from its past, like Obama and Hillary Clinton, contributed to the loss. “The conclusion for Democrats is that they’ve got to dispense with these people from the past and move to a new generation of figures who are not in the AOC club at all,” Garrow argued.
Garrow was critical of both Barack and Michelle Obama’s approach on the campaign trail, calling their messaging tone-deaf. “People do not want to be talked down to, no matter who they are,” he said. “I thought it was tone-deaf and clueless for them to preach as they did. If so, I think it reduces their relevance to Bill Clinton territory.”
According to Garrow, the Obamas’ rhetoric, particularly towards Black voters, may have backfired. He pointed to an incident in October when Barack Obama, speaking at a Harris campaign office in Pittsburgh, criticized Black men for not showing the same level of enthusiasm for Harris as they did for him. “You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses,” Obama said. “Part of it makes me think that you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other reasons for that.”
More of Barack Obama having a serious talk at a Black voters for Harris event in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty. He addressed that Black men have not been as enthused about Harris as during his first run, and that has to change to beat Trump pic.twitter.com/iPBUNL8zME
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 10, 2024
The comments were not well-received by many Black men, who felt they were being unfairly chastised. Garrow argued that such remarks could have contributed to Harris’ failure to rally critical voter demographics. “Even before Election Day, I strongly believed that the tone and condescension with which both Barack and Michelle spoke, particularly towards Black men, was self-defeating to the point of backfire,” Garrow explained.
Michelle Obama made similar statements during a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, urging men to consider the historical significance of their vote. “Fellas, before you cast your votes, ask yourself, what side of history do you want to be on?” she said. “Are you prepared to look into the eyes of the women and children you love and tell them that you supported this assault on our safety?”
Garrow believes that these comments may have harmed Harris’ chances, noting, “Certainly at the margins, I think they both harmed her.”
Despite the setback, Garrow acknowledged that Obama still holds significant cultural influence. “He still has the celebrity factor of being an ex-president,” Garrow noted. “I imagine they will continue to hang out with celebrities and live on Martha’s Vineyard.”
However, Garrow predicted that Trump’s victory might prompt the Obamas to reconsider their public presence. “I certainly expect them to be spending less time in Washington after early January,” he added.
The biographer’s remarks highlight growing concerns within the Democratic Party about its reliance on past leaders and the effectiveness of its campaign messaging, particularly in connecting with key voter groups. As the dust settles from Trump’s landslide win, Democrats may be forced to reassess their strategy and look towards a new generation of candidates who can resonate with the broader electorate.