Newt Gingrich Sparks Backlash After Saying Obama Made America “More Racist, More Dangerous”
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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is drawing criticism after asserting that Barack Obama’s presidency helped create “a much more racist and much more dangerous America.” The remarks came during a sit-down with Carla Sands of the America First Policy Institute, in a clip that quickly circulated on social media.
Gingrich framed his comments within a broader critique of U.S. politics over the past decade, later suggesting that President Donald Trump’s administration would reverse those trends. He also characterized President Joe Biden’s tenure as “essentially Obama’s third term.”
As the clip went viral, so did responses supporting Obama and seemingly highlighting which side Gingrich was on. “Obama divided the country between people who could accept a Black president and those who couldn’t. Pretty clear which side Gingrich was on,” @paulhandley2 wrote.
The video drew swift pushback online, with detractors arguing that Obama’s election exposed—rather than caused—existing racial divisions. Public polling on race relations has long reflected polarized views: surveys in the mid-2010s found many Americans believed relations had worsened, even as majorities—particularly among Black respondents—pointed to systemic bias as a root cause.
Others gave their two cents on the former lawmaker, adding on to some of the racist rhetoric handed down by Trump. “Yeah, having a decent, qualified black man as President, trying to bring everyone together, was bad. A much better way to create unity is with an unqualified, corrupt, a**hole of a President — who sh*t-posts racist memes and has stormtroopers violently attacking citizens!,” @planterspunch7 said with a corresponding clown emoji.
Gingrich, who has at times acknowledged racial disparities in past interviews, did not provide specific evidence in the new clip linking Obama’s presidency to increased racism or danger. The America First Policy Institute interview segment highlighting his remarks continued to trend as allies and critics debated his claims.
