Former President Barack Obama slammed President Donald Trump, and Republicans in office, for his criticism of mail-in voting as he eulogized Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights icon on Thursday.
Obama accused Trump of attempting to dissuade Americans from voting.
“Even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision,” Obama said.
He added, “Even undermining the postal service in the run-up to an election that’s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don’t get sick.”
Watch his remarks below:
Former Pres. Obama: "Even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision." pic.twitter.com/ctYymVj4D3
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) July 30, 2020
Obama acknowledged this is a time to celebrate Lewis’ life, but suggested he is talking about these issues because Lewis spent his whole life “devoted” to fighting these “attacks” on Democracy and what is best for the nation.
Obama’s comments come just hours after Trump issued a tweet floating the idea of delaying the upcoming presidential election slamming “universal mail-in voting,” as IJR previously reported.
Trump argued if Americans chose to vote that way, the election would be “the most inaccurate” and “fraudulent election in history.”
Trump received harsh criticism from other lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Pelosi pointed to a clause in the Constitution as proof the president is not able to delay an election as the election date is determined by Congress, as IJR previously reported.
Schumer took to the Senate floor on Thursday accusing Trump of trying to delay the election to distract from his response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump’s fellow Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pushed back on his suggestion noting the nation will hold the election on the designated date with no exception.
Earlier this month Obama said mail-in voting “shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”