Former U.S President Barack Obama has come under fire from comrades of the Democratic Party for faulting the #Defund-the-police campaign.

Mr. Obama, who served as president between 2009 and 2017 under the platform of the party, said phrases like “defund the police” could irritate voters and prove costly for Democrats seeking elective positions, Fox News reported.

Speaking on a political show early Wednesday, the former U.S leader said: “You lost a big audience the minute you say it (defund the police), which makes it a lot less likely that you’re actually going to get the changes you want done.”

“The key is deciding, do you want to actually get something done, or do you want to feel good among the people you already agree with?”
Mr. Obama’s comments drew the ire of some Democrats, who argued that #Defund-the-police is not a slogan, but a mandate for keeping black people alive.

The #Defund-the-police movement has gained massive prominence amongst U.S nationals, following the death of George Floyd, who passed away in May after a Minneapolis cop knelt on his neck.

FOX reported that many cities in the United States, including Los Angeles, Portland and New York City, have reviewed the budgets of their police department. 

The movement’s campaigners are demanding that funding be moved from security agencies and channeled into other public services.

Mr. Obama, who echoed the thoughts of a few other Democrat leaders, believe that the campaign has made the party unpopular, having lost nine out of 35 seats in the House of Representatives.

The former U.S leader’s remark comes weeks after members of the party were locked in fierce debates over what prompted the poor showing at the polls, FOX said.