'Erosion of basic principles': Obama slams Trump over Washington control, says THIS

Former US President Barack Obama said on Thursday (August 18) that Trump’s expansion of military force on US soil puts "the liberties of all Americans at risk." He posted on X and lamented the “federalization and militarization of state and local police functions." In the post, he shared a New York Times Opinion interview on the Trump administration’s growing comfort in wielding federal and local law enforcement to conduct its sweeping campaign of arrests against immigrants and criminals, and whether it indicates a slide into authoritarianism. The former president wrote that the “erosion of basic principles like due process and the expanding use of our military on domestic soil puts the liberties of all Americans at risk.

"The erosion of basic principles like due process and the expanding use of our military on domestic soil puts the liberties of all Americans at risk, and should concern democrats and republicans alike," Obama wrote.

The column he shared said, "Trump is creating crisis and disorder so he can build what he has wanted to build: an authoritarian state, a military or a paramilitary that answers only to him — that puts him in total control.”

Trump has extended his control over the capital city, Washington, DC, as his Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday (August 27) that his department has taken control of the management of Union Station, the main transportation hub, away from Amtrak. The announcement came before Dufy joined Amtrak President Roger Harris at Union Station for the launch of the NextGen Acela.

The secretary said Union Station, located within walking distance of the US Capitol, had “fallen into disrepair” when it should be a “point of pride” for the city. “By reclaiming station management, we make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost,” he added.