Former President Barack Obama used a closed-door Democratic National Committee fundraiser at New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s residence in Red Bank on 11 July to deliver a blunt assessment of his party’s posture under President Donald Trump. Urging supporters to show “a little bit less navel-gazing and whining,” Obama said Democrats must “just toughen up” and defend core values even when doing so is uncomfortable. The dinner, which netted about US$2.5 million for the DNC, marked Obama’s first appearance on the fundraising circuit since the party lost the White House and both chambers of Congress in 2024. He told donors to stop “looking for the quick fix” or a political “messiah” and instead back candidates who can win critical state races. Obama singled out Representative Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and former Representative Abigail Spanberger in Virginia as examples of pragmatic contenders who could help rebuild Democratic momentum in this year’s gubernatorial contests. He also chastised party elites and allied institutions for staying silent in the face of Trump’s agenda, arguing that what is needed now is “courage” and a willingness to take concrete action on issues such as housing, free speech and democratic norms.