Goldberg Rebukes Obama Over Call for Democrats to ‘Toughen Up’

ABC’s “The View” devoted part of its 15 July program to former President Barack Obama’s recent admonition that Democrats should “toughen up,” engage in less “navel-gazing,” and stop “whining” about former President Donald Trump. The remarks, delivered at a closed-door fundraiser in New Jersey last Friday and later reported by The New York Times, framed Democrats as insufficiently assertive heading into the 2026 mid-term cycle. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg pushed back forcefully on air, arguing that grassroots Democratic voters have been active and vocal on issues ranging from Social Security to immigration. “People were out on the front lines marching,” she said, insisting party messaging has resonated with the public rather than lagged. Goldberg contended Obama’s critique—and a similar one from billionaire Mark Cuban, who told the ‘Pod Save America’ podcast that Democrats rely too heavily on an “It’s just ‘Trump sucks’” strategy—misdirects blame at voters instead of elected officials. The exchange highlights an emerging rift among prominent Democratic-leaning voices over how the party should campaign against Trump-era policies and craft a forward-looking platform before next year’s elections.