Michelle Obama didn’t hold back on Tuesday while taking aim at former President Donald Trump, who is running for the White House for the third time.
Reflecting on her memorable 2016 line from the Democratic National Convention, “When they go low, we go high,” the former first lady shifted gears, opting for direct criticism this time around.
Addressing a lively crowd at the United Center in Chicago, she accused Trump of “going small.” “That’s the opposite of what we teach our kids,” she stated. “It’s petty and unhealthy, and frankly, it’s unpresidential. Why should we accept this from someone aiming for the highest office?”
In a hopeful message, Obama announced, “America, hope is making a comeback,” and encouraged support for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now leading the Democratic ticket following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race. If elected, Harris would make history as the first female president.
Praising Harris for her qualifications, Obama said she is “more than ready for this moment.”
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However, the bulk of Obama’s speech focused on Trump. She drew connections between his derogatory remarks about Harris, who has Jamaican and Indian roots, and the falsehoods he spread about her and her husband, Barack Obama.
“For years, Donald Trump did everything to instill fear,” she remarked, emphasizing his limited worldview and how it seems to threaten the success of two accomplished Black individuals.
She challenged Trump’s June debate assertion that migrants were taking jobs from Black Americans. “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s chasing might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?” Obama quipped, criticizing his “ugly, misogynistic, racist lies” as a substitute for genuine solutions.
Concluding her address, Obama urged Democrats to unite and maximize their efforts to support Harris in November. “We have only two and a half months to get this done—11 weeks to ensure everyone we know is registered and ready to vote,” she highlighted, stressing the urgency of action and personal responsibility.
“Don’t wait to be asked for support. Our fate is in our hands,” she declared.