During a passionate address at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle Obama moved audiences to tears and smiles alike. Kerry Washington shared her emotional response on social media, calling it a moment that had her “smiling while weeping.”
Speaking at the packed United Center in Chicago, Michelle Obama targeted Republican nominee Donald Trump, accusing him of “going small.” With President Joe Biden stepping back from reelection, Trump is now gearing up to face Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming November elections.
Celebrated as a leading voice in the Democratic Party, Michelle praised Harris as “one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency” and asserted that she’s “more than ready for this moment.”
Washington wasn’t alone; many celebrities took to X (formerly Twitter) to endorse Michelle’s remarks. She drew stark comparisons between Trump’s controversial comments about Harris—who represents Jamaican and Indian heritage—and the falsehoods he spun about the Obamas.
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,” Michelle stated, emphasizing his narrow views and how it threatened his perception of hardworking, educated Black individuals.
She also countered Trump’s June debate comments regarding job competition, remarking, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?” She criticized his reliance on “ugly, misogynistic, racist lies” instead of proposing genuine solutions.
As footage of her speech circulated online, Washington expressed admiration, tweeting, “@MichelleObama you are an extraordinary human being.”
TV host Andy Cohen joined the chorus, exclaiming, “YES MICHELLE!!!!!!!!!” and punctuating his support with a series of flag emojis.
YES MICHELLE!!!!!!!!! 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) August 21, 2024
Bette Midler echoed the sentiment, pointing out one of Michelle’s powerful statements regarding Trump’s quest for office, tweeting, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s running for might be one of those ‘black jobs’?”
“Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s running for might be one of those “black jobs”?”
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) August 21, 2024
Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese joined in, tweeting, “MICHELLE SAID WHAT SHE SAID.”
MICHELLE SAID WHAT SHE SAID.
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) August 21, 2024
Barack Obama also took the stage that evening, prompting actress Lynda Carter to quote him, stating, “We’ve seen that movie before. We all know that the sequel is usually worse,” urging support for Kamala Harris to avoid a “Troll 2” scenario.
“We’ve seen that movie before. We all know that the sequel is usually worse.”
Vote Kamala and avoid the Troll 2 of presidencies.
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) August 21, 2024
Ben Rhodes, former Obama speechwriter, praised the couple’s ability to capture an inclusive form of progressive patriotism.
Michelle’s speech concluded with a powerful call for unity among Democrats. “We only have two and a half months, y’all,” she urged. “Our fate is in our hands.” She stressed the importance of getting involved, reminding everyone that now’s the time to act—not just wait for others to reach out.