Cool, even-keeled, no-drama Barack Obama is one of the few people in the country who hasn’t publicly opined on the tweets and turmoil wrought by President Trump. And so a persistent question to those close to the former president is: What does Obama really think of the man now occupying the Oval Office?

“He’s nothing but a bullsh–ter,” Obama told two friends early last November, describing an election night phone call with Trump, in which the businessman suddenly professed his “respect” and “admiration” for Obama—after years of hectoring.

Speaking to PEOPLE for its new cover story on Obama and his wife Michelle adjusting to life outside the White House, the two friends quoted Obama’s blunt assessment of President-elect Trump. And how has Obama’s opinion changed since Trump been in office? “Well,” said one of the sources, “it hasn’t gotten any better.”

A third source close to Obama tells PEOPLE: “He’s deeply concerned with what he’s seen. But he’s also optimistic and heartened that citizens aren’t just watching it happen but engaging with neighbors and elected representatives at town halls.”

“Bulls—ter,” while head-turning, shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to anyone paying attention to Obama’s 2016 campaign rhetoric on Trump (“unfit,” “woefully unprepared” and “unacceptable”). But the former president has been meticulous since the election about not publicly violating that unwritten code of conduct among ex-presidents that bars criticizing whoever’s currently in the Oval Office.

“He’s very respectful of the appropriate role of a former president and that ex-presidents should not be looking over the shoulder of their successors and commenting on every decision,” says Obama’s long-time friend and political strategist David Axelrod, now director of the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.

Poster Comment:

Bullshitter would be a kind term when applied to the America-hating Obama! It doesn't belong to a man elected to president whose prior life was a success.

Trump is a philanthropist, i.e. donates money he has earned, not begging for others to fund your charitable projects and he recognized a political void NO other candidate was willing to address. Obama is one of the few ex-presidents (albeit a phony and illegal one) that I completely despise.

Obozo was the Manchurian Candidate foisted upon America by the likes of Soros and the Bilderbergs to try and destroy her. I say he got about 75% of the way there and Hillary was supposed to finish us off. Thank god America woke up in time to elect Trump.

Incidentally, People magazine is a bullshit rag looked at by people who can barely read but recognize the people in the 'pitchers'.