Ben Rhodes, Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor, on 12/23/2016, reacting to Donald Trump’s commentary on the US allowing United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 to pass:
“On the president-elect, the first thing I’d just say is that there’s one president at a time. President Obama is the president of the United States until Jan. 20, and we are taking this action, of course, as U.S. policy.”
President Obama on 12/26/2016:
“That doesn’t mean that if a year from now, or a year-and-a-half from now, or two years from now, there is an issue of such moment, such import, that isn’t just a debate about a particular tax bill or, you know, a particular policy, but goes to some foundational issues about our democracy that I might not weigh in. You know, I’m still a citizen and that carries with it duties and obligations.”
So the President-Elect should shut up until he’s President, but a former President has a duty to speak out. Okay, then.