Joy Reid Criticizes Obama for Not Exercising 'King-Like' Power Like Trump, Cites Regrets Over Second Term

MSNBC host Joy Reid has expressed regret over Barack Obama’s presidency, stating that she wishes Obama had exercised presidential power more aggressively—comparing his approach to that of Donald Trump.

In an interview with Maury Povich on his “On Par” podcast, Reid reflected on the Obama administration’s second term, saying Americans underestimated the potential of presidential authority. She argued that Obama could have pushed through more legislation and initiatives to benefit the public if he had adopted a more assertive, even 'king-like,' stance.

“My big regret about the Obama second term is that none of us understood the potential for presidential power. Little did we know that a president could effectively behave as a king, as Trump is. And I wish Obama had wielded the presidency with the kind of raw and unabashed, ruthless power that Trump is, because I know he wouldn’t have done it to line his pockets.”

Reid added that she believes Obama would have used such power to advance important policies for the American people rather than personal gain. She concluded:

“He would have done it to push through some really important legislation—or not legislation, but to do some things for the American people. I wish that he’d used power the way Trump does, but Trump just uses it to get richer.”

Trump’s ‘King-Like’ Rhetoric and Public Backlash

Donald Trump has faced repeated criticism for his references to himself as a 'king-like' figure in the U.S. His comments have included jokes about running for a third term, despite constitutional prohibitions, often framed as a taunt toward political opponents.

In February, Trump drew significant backlash after posting a message on Truth Social declaring, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” The post coincided with his administration’s decision to end daytime tolls in New York.

Shortly after, the official White House X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts shared the quote alongside an image of Trump wearing a crown in front of a New York skyline. Public reactions to the posts were overwhelmingly negative, with comments ranging from sarcastic remarks—“This must be new wall art for his bathroom”—to criticisms of the post’s appropriateness, such as “Really??? Posting this on the official White House account is so embarrassing and disrespectful to our country.”