Obama says ‘racism’ and ‘mommy issues’ are limiting the country’s ability to make progress

Former President Obama said Monday that “racism” and “mommy issues” are among the factors contributing to the nation’s lack of progress on climate change and a host of other issues.

The lack of progress is in part “because we are still confused, blind, shrouded with hate, anger, racism, mommy issues,” Obama said in a speech at the Obama Foundation Summit, NBC News reported. It wrote that the comments were met with laughter from the entire audience. 

{mosads}“We are fraught with stuff, and so if that is the case, then the single most important thing we have to invest in is … people,” the former president continued. “We have got to get people to figure out how they work together in a cooperative, thoughtful, constructive way.”

People “literally can remake the world right now,” Obama also said during his speech, while adding that he believes the world “badly needs remaking.”

Obama did not mention President Trump by name during his remarks, according to NBC, though the comments about anger seemed to be directed at least in part at his successor.

Obama’s speech arrives on the heels of his forceful campaigning against Trump and other Republicans in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections.

Former first lady Michelle Obama has also been in the public eye in recent weeks, doing interviews and public events to promote her new memoir.