JUST IN: Obama says supporting Trump shows “disrespect for democracy”

Barack Obama’s remarks touched on a deeper tension in American politics—whether democracy is simply a set of procedures or a shared commitment to certain principles. Supporters of his view argue that criticizing Donald Trump is about protecting institutions such as elections, courts, and peaceful transfers of power. Meanwhile, many Trump supporters interpret those comments as dismissing their frustrations and their vote, believing the political system ignored their concerns before criticizing their response. The divide highlights a broader crisis in which both sides believe they are defending democracy while seeing the other as threatening it.