During a conversation with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama described the situation unfolding in Los Angeles as an “atrocity,” pointing to the stark contrast between America’s wealth and the visible suffering playing out on city streets.
“I think it is morally — ethically speaking — it is an atrocity that in a country this wealthy, we have people just on the streets, and we should insist on policies that recognize their full humanity — people who are houseless — and be able to provide them with the help and resources that they need,” Obama said.
The former president also acknowledged what many residents and business owners in Los Angeles have been saying for years: voters are increasingly frustrated by sprawling tent encampments in major urban centers.
“We should recognize that the average person doesn’t want to have to navigate around a tent city in the middle of downtown,” Obama added. “That’s a losing political strategy.”
California has spent billions of dollars attempting to address homelessness, particularly in Los Angeles County, where encampments have become a defining feature of parts of the city. Critics have long questioned whether the massive financial investments have produced measurable results.
President Obama’s comments on homelessness in LA are actually a thinly veiled political swipe at Gavin Newsom & Karen Bass. Here’s why: pic.twitter.com/Wu503PAMZz
— Caroline Sunshine (@CSUNSHINE) February 18, 2026
Obama suggested that any effective strategy must balance compassion with public buy-in. He warned that simply absolving individuals of responsibility without accountability risks alienating voters whose support is necessary to sustain long-term programs.
“We’re not going to be able to generate support for it if we simply say, ‘You know what, it’s not their fault and so they should be able to do whatever they want,’ because that’s a losing political strategy,” he said.
At the same time, Obama emphasized that accountability does not mean indifference. “That doesn’t mean that we care less about those folks,” he said. “It means if we really care about them, then we got to try to figure out how do we gain majority support and be practical in terms of what we can get through at this moment in time and build on those victories.”
The remarks come as California Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to defend his administration’s record. In his State of the State address last month, Newsom pointed to a reported 9% statewide drop in homelessness. In January, he announced new investments aimed at expanding shelters and services.
“No one in this country should be without a place to call home. In California, we’re proving there is a solution,” Newsom said earlier this year. “The strategies we’ve put in place are working, and they’re turning this crisis around — but we’re not done.”
Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos echoed that message, stating that the governor agrees with Obama and is working to build a model that could be replicated nationwide. She cited increased housing construction, mental health reforms, removal of encampments, and stronger accountability measures as part of the state’s evolving approach.
Still, the images of tent cities, trash piles, and crowded sidewalks remain politically potent. Obama’s comments reflect a growing recognition among Democratic leaders that public tolerance has limits — and that compassion alone may not be enough to win over voters demanding visible change.
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