WASHINGTON (AP) – Former President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance Thursday at a progressive event in Washington, telling the audience that American voters reject President Trump’s policies and offering hope that he can bridge the divide within the Democratic Party.
Beginning his speech at a recording event for the podcast “Pod Save America,” President Obama told the audience, “Good night Tuesday,” to loud cheers.
“It was a reminder that the American people are paying attention,” he said. “They don’t want brutality. They don’t want people at the top trying to establish power.”
victory of New York City Mayor-elect Zoran MamdaniDemocratic Socialists Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill are in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, fueling debate over how to address the divide between progressives and moderates as the party refines its message ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Associated Press Voter Poll, which surveyed more than 17,000 voters in New York City, Virginia, New Jersey and California, where state proposals to redraw congressional districts were successful, found that most voters disapproved of President Donald Trump’s performance and many thought his aggressive approach on immigration had gone “too far.”
President Obama acknowledged that “there is a lot of work to be done,” but said the various factions “get along” and “not in a cookie-cutter or phony way.” Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist who supports Mr. Mamdani, told reporters earlier this week that it was no secret that there were divisions among Democrats.
President Obama told the audience that different positions would emerge.
“We recognize that we have differences,” Obama said. “There will certainly be more battles to be fought, but deep down there is something extraordinary and common to all of us.”
