On Tuesday, President Barack Obama issued his final National Security briefing in Tampa Florida, making veiled references to Trump throughout.
Obama tried to empahsize some of America’s most vital values, including religious freedom and freedom from discrimination based on being different in any way.
The president also urged the citizenry to remember that it is their right to speak out and to protest against leadership they disagree with.
“…freedom can never be taken for granted. Each of us has a responsibility to sustain it. The universal right to speak your mind — protest against authority. To live in a society that’s open and free. That can criticize a president without retribution.”
That line seemed to be directed at Donald Trump who has repeatedly shown an inability to accept any criticism. Trump has said that he would like to censor news organizations that cover him unfavorably and has regularly barred members of the media from his events for seemingly no reason.
Trump has also regularly become angered at protests all over the nation and might be inclined to try and suppress protests like these in the future.
Obama, who was likely the most criticized president in recent history was giving a specificl message to the people: remain vigilant. Remember your rights.
Obama appeared almost emotional at times as he addressed the U.S. military as its Commander in Chief one final time. Though president Obama won’t leave office until January 20, this will be the last speech to the military that he makes.
