Harris, Obama Trash Trump, MAGA, At Jesse Jackson Funeral

A memorial service intended to honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson turned sharply political on Friday after several prominent Democrats used the moment to criticize President Donald J. Trump—a move that even members of Jackson’s own family said was inappropriate.

Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama were among the high-profile figures who attended the funeral, alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Bill Clinton. During remarks delivered at the service, both Harris and Obama made comments widely interpreted as attacks on the current administration.

At one point in her speech, Harris appeared to reference the Trump presidency.

“Let me just tell ya, I predicted a lot of what’s happening right now,” Harris said. “I’m not into saying ‘I told ya so,’ but we did see it comin’,” she added in a southern-style accent.

Obama struck a similar tone when it was his turn to speak, also delivering remarks that critics said seemed designed to appeal to the audience rather than focus solely on Jackson’s legacy.

Jackson’s Son Pushes Back

The political tone of the event drew swift criticism from Jesse Jackson Jr., the civil rights leader’s son and a former Democratic congressman from Illinois.

Jackson Jr. publicly rebuked those who used the memorial to score political points, emphasizing that the service should have remained focused on honoring his father’s life and contributions.

“Do not bring your politics, out of respect to Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the life that he lived, to these ongoing services. Come respectful, and come to say thank you. But these ongoing services are welcome to ALL – Democrat, Republican, liberal, and conservative. Right-wing, left-wing. Because his life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be an American,” Jackson Jr. said.

Other prominent attendees included Hillary Clinton and First Lady Jill Biden, while Michelle Obama was notably absent from the service.

Pelosi’s Past Comments Resurface

At the same time, controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s recent military action against Iran has reignited scrutiny of past Democratic positions on presidential war powers.

A resurfaced video clip featuring former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is drawing renewed attention online. The footage dates back to 2011, when Pelosi defended President Obama’s decision to launch military strikes in Libya without first seeking formal congressional authorization.

During a press event that year, a reporter pressed Pelosi on the issue.

“You’re saying that the president did not need authorization initially and still does not need any authorization from Congress on Libya?” the reporter asked.

“Yes,” Pelosi replied.

The comment stands in sharp contrast to Pelosi’s reaction to President Trump’s recent strikes against Iran, which she condemned as unconstitutional because Congress did not formally authorize them.

“President Trump’s decision to initiate military hostilities into Iran starts another unnecessary war which endangers our servicemembers and destabilizes an already fragile region,” Pelosi wrote in a post on X.

“The Constitution is clear: decisions that lead our nation into war must be authorized by Congress,” she added, referencing the War Powers Act of 1973.

Administration Defends Action Against Iran

President Trump authorized the military strikes as part of a joint U.S.–Israeli operation targeting Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure. According to U.S. officials, the operation eliminated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with several senior regime figures.

The administration described the operation as a decisive step aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and protecting American forces and allies in the region.

Pelosi’s office has argued that the Libya and Iran situations are fundamentally different.

“There is an absolute distinction between the limited military operations in Libya and the broad, escalating war with Iran initiated by President Trump,” Pelosi spokesperson Ian Krager said.

“Speaker Pelosi’s position has been consistent: when the prospect of expansive or prolonged hostilities exists, the Constitution and the War Powers Act are clear that Congress must authorize it.”

War Powers Debate Returns

The controversy has revived broader debates over presidential authority in military conflicts. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have long argued that the War Powers Act—passed near the end of the Vietnam War—places unconstitutional limits on the commander-in-chief’s authority.

Critics of Pelosi’s stance have pointed to the Obama administration’s 2011 intervention in Libya—known as Operation Odyssey Dawn—as an example of similar executive action taken without a formal declaration of war.

In March 2011, the Obama administration ordered U.S. and NATO forces to conduct airstrikes against Libyan government positions during the uprising against longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. While Obama consulted congressional leaders, he did not seek a formal authorization from Congress before launching the operation.

As tensions with Iran dominate headlines and political divisions deepen in Washington, the debate over presidential war powers—and accusations of political double standards—continues to intensify.