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"Deporter-in-Chief" Redux: How Barack Obama Quietly Out-Trumped Trump

Writer's picture: The ElephantThe Elephant

Updated: Jan 29

Liberals on immigration: 'We’re for it, unless it’s politically inconvenient. Then, we’ve always been against it



NOTE: A longer read than usual, but worth your time. Read the disclaimer for additional perspective,


WASHINGTON, D.C. — A video clip of Barack Obama discussing the deportation of illegal immigrants is making waves online, exposing the glaring hypocrisy of the Democratic Party. The video, shared in defense of Donald Trump’s immigration policies, highlights how critics of Trump are either ignorant or willfully blind to the actions taken by Obama and other presidents before him.


Turns out the controversial immigration deportation policies of Donald Trump, currently fueling a week-long meltdown on X, aren’t so unique after all. The quote referenced in the video wasn’t Trump’s but rather Barack Obama’s—yes, the same man who graced magazine covers, garnered Nobel Peace Prizes (preemptively, of course), and brought "hope and change" to millions—while also delivering deportation notices to 3.2 million immigrants.


But let’s back up. The quote in question:

"If you're a criminal, you'll be deported. If you plan to enter the U.S. illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up. The actions I'm taking are not only lawful; they're the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican president and every single Democratic president for the past half-century."


Liberals, celebrities, and social media warriors alike were in full force sharpening their pitchforks and hurling their favorite buzzwords: “racist,” “Hitler,” “unchristlike.” Even Pope Francis chimed in, presumably while tweeting from Vatican City: “claiming Trump's actions were a disgrace.”  While, Bishop Budde, auditioned for "woke Sermon of the Year", as she rebuked Trump on immigration policy during a "prayer" service. And then there's Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift taking to social media and competing to see who could fit the most crying emojis in a single post. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom offered his state as a “sanctuary for all” – except for businesses and residents fleeing his tax and fire prevention policies.


But here’s the kicker: The video shows Barack Obama endorsing the very same policies that liberals are now rebuking Donald Trump for. That’s right—Obama deported more people than any president in U.S. history. The same Democrats who once applauded Obama’s “measured leadership” are now labeling Trump’s enforcement of immigration laws as "Naziism." Oh, the hypocrisy!


Deportation by the Numbers: A Brief History of Hypocrisy


Let’s do some quick math. Between 1993 and 2016:

  • Bill Clinton deported 870,000 people.

  • George W. Bush ramped it up to 2 million.

  • And Barack Obama? A whopping 3.2 million.


For those keeping score at home, that’s nearly six million deportations across three presidents, none of whom received the Hitler comparisons Trump endures on a daily basis. Instead, they were applauded for their "measured approach" to immigration. Curious, isn’t it?


The hypocrisy gets richer when you look at the history of mass deportations in America. During the Great Depression, FDR—yes, the liberal icon himself—oversaw a mass deportation so effective that 90% of those affected self-deported. Why? Because Roosevelt, who’s always hailed as the champion of the working man, made it crystal clear: No public assistance for illegal immigrants. As a result, between one and two million people left the country on their own.


Then there’s Dwight D. Eisenhower, who took it a step further, using military operations to expel hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. Yet somehow, the farm fields didn’t dry up, the manufacturing industry didn’t crumble, and Americans still managed to mow their lawns and pick their fruit. Shocking!


Virtue-Signaling Olympics: A New Event

Fast forward to 2025, and deportation is suddenly synonymous with fascism. Why? Because today’s Democrats and their media allies have mastered the art of virtue signaling.


Take Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who declared deportation “inhumane and unnecessary” – while conveniently ignoring Chicago’s skyrocketing crime rates and sanctuary policies that have turned parts of the city into an open-air episode of Cops. Or Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who proclaimed her city a “beacon of hope” for immigrants—provided they don’t require basic services like functioning public schools or safe subway rides.


And let’s not forget Governor Gavin Newsom, who loves immigrants so much that he’d rather California taxpayers foot the bill for their benefits than address the 170,000 people currently sleeping on the state’s streets. Because nothing says “compassion” quite like spending billions on illegal immigrants while your own citizens live in tent cities.


A Convenient Awakening


The outrage isn’t about morality—it’s about politics. The modern Democratic Party doesn’t care about immigrants; it cares about immigrant votes. After all, if illegal immigrants suddenly started voting Republican, sanctuary cities would vanish overnight.


The truth is, mass deportation has been part of U.S. policy for over a century, under both Democrats and Republicans. Every nation deports illegal immigrants—it’s not cruel or unusual; it’s what countries must do for the well being of its citizens..


But in today’s political climate, facts don’t matter. What matters is the narrative. And the narrative says that deportation under Obama was “pragmatic,” while deportation under Trump is “a human rights violation.” It’s almost as if liberals forgot their favorite president earned the nickname “Deporter-in-Chief” long before Trump came down that escalator.


So, next time someone tells you that Donald Trump is a monster for enforcing immigration laws, just remind them who said:


"The actions I'm taking are not only lawful; they're the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican president and every single Democratic president for the past half-century."


And then watch their heads explode when you reveal it was Obama.


After all, hypocrisy is the one thing liberals never deport.


Disclaimer: A Compassionate Yet Pragmatic View on Immigration


The plight of those seeking refuge across the world’s continents is one of the most pressing and heartrending issues of our time. We are constantly moved by stories of resilience, of families risking everything for a chance at freedom, and of individuals embarking on perilous journeys in search of hope and safety. The courage and determination of those fleeing oppression is nothing short of remarkable, and it is impossible not to feel empathy for their struggles and their unrelenting fight for a better future.


However, beneath this powerful surface of human resilience lies a stark and sobering reality. Many who brave these treacherous paths find themselves trading one hardship for another. The dream of freedom too often becomes a nightmare of exploitation, abuse, and despair. Women and children face unspeakable horrors, from rape and murder to the cold reality of being trafficked into slavery or forced labor. Consider the staggering figure of nearly 340,000 missing children who are believed to have been trafficked, many falling victim to the control of drug cartels and criminal enterprises. These aren't isolated tragedies; they are the hidden costs of a broken system.


The challenges extend beyond the immigrants themselves. Host nations, though often compassionate, are stretched to their limits. An influx of newcomers strains public resources, overburdens social systems, and complicates efforts to address their own internal challenges. Worse still, the lack of proper vetting at the border exposes countries to significant security risks. Alongside the dreamers seeking refuge are those trafficking fentanyl and engaging in criminal operations that threaten the safety and welfare of the population. Stories of American women and children raped, murdered, and trafficked by illegal aliens are gut-wrenching reminders of a system that fails everyone—immigrants and citizens alike.


This is a delicate balance, where compassion must be tempered by pragmatism, and where humanity must not sacrifice its own survival in the name of well-meaning but unsustainable practices. While protecting lives is essential, ensuring a future where all people can live with dignity and security is equally critical; it is about protecting the future of humanity itself. It is about addressing these issues in a way that prevents exploitation, strengthens the safety of host nations, and ensures that immigrants can truly thrive rather than fall victim to new forms of injustice.


It is for these reasons that Donald Trump’s policies on immigration demand a second look, free of the rhetoric and emotional fervor that so often cloud this debate. Trump’s approach, while bold and at times controversial, addresses both the human cost of illegal immigration and the strain placed on the host nation. By emphasizing secure borders, proper vetting, and a structured immigration system, Trump takes the courageous stance of confronting these dual realities head-on—recognizing the need for empathy while also prioritizing the safety, security, and sustainability of the United States and the immigrants themselves.


Trump’s defense of strong borders and his efforts to confront the exploitation and suffering at the root of this crisis are not an act of cruelty but of clarity and resolve. It takes courage to see both sides of the immigration issue: the desperate plight of those seeking refuge and the equally critical need to protect the lives, resources, and futures of the citizens of this nation. By doing so, he advocates for a balanced solution that ensures the dignity of all involved—both those seeking a new life and those whose lives and communities are impacted by this complex and ongoing issue.


In the end, the question is not whether we should care, but whether we are willing to act wisely. It is time to move beyond virtue signaling and emotional grandstanding and embrace real common sense solutions—solutions that protect, preserve, and uplift the very essence of humanity itself.




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