Former U.S. President Barack Obama used his first major speech since leaving office to call out a global rise in authoritarianism and defend globalization, but did not directly address the current President, Donald Trump, as some thought he might. Beginning his speech at the 2018 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg, South Africa, Obama said we are in “strange and uncertain times” with “head-spinning and disturbing headlines.” He went on to deliver an extensive defense of democracy while criticizing “strongman politics,” which he described as “ascendant.” “In the west you’ve got far-right parties that oftentimes are based on platforms of protectionism and closed borders and barely hidden racial nationalism,” Obama said. Obama chose not to directly reference Trump, who is being criticized by many Tuesday after a controversial appearance with Russian President Vladimir Putin.