Obama hits out at US administration

Former US President Barack Obama on Saturday criticised the response to the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging America, in what was widely regarded as a rare public rebuke of his successor Donald Trump.

His remarks came as he spoke at two virtual commencements for high school and university students locked down instead of celebrating their graduations, a rite of passage every spring.

“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama told graduates from several dozen historically black colleges and universities at the first ceremony.

“A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge,” he said as he discussed the implications of the pandemic during the online event.

That celebration was followed by a second, star-studded primetime ceremony for high school students in which Obama continued along the same lines, telling students to step up where leaders had failed.

The ceremony, carried by all the major American television networks, flashed between stirring speeches and performances

students and celebrities alike, including basketball superstar Lebron James and singers the Jonas Brothers.

James echoed Obama’s call for the students to step up, urging them to “Stay close to home” and help rebuild communities devastated by the virus and shutdowns.

The US leads the world with coronavirus cases and deaths, at 1.4 million and nearly 90,000, respectively.