Obamas rally Chicago crowd with passionate anti-Trump speeches
Donald Trump is like a neighbor who keeps a leaf blower running all day; Kamala Harris is like a neighbor who comes to your aid, said former President Barack Obama during the Democratic convention in Chicago. He also made a suggestive gesture while talking about Trump's "obsession with greatness," eliciting applause from the audience.
8:44 AM EDT, August 21, 2024
During his speech, which was the highlight of the second day of the Democratic convention in Chicago, Obama paid tribute to President Biden, calling him "an outstanding president who defended democracy." He also endorsed Kamala Harris as a candidate who will open a new chapter in America's history and warned against the return of Donald Trump, comparing him to "a neighbor who keeps a leaf blower running outside your window every minute of every day."
Obama called Trump "a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. It’s been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually gotten worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala," he said, making a suggestive gesture. At this moment, the crowd laughed and applauded the former president.
Let us recall: Trump recently argued on his social media platform that Kamala Harris "doctors" her crowd sizes in photos and videos using artificial intelligence.
Obama accuses Trump of using "oldest political tricks"
Obama stated that Trump is driven solely by his own interests and uses "the oldest tricks in politics," preying on voters' fears and basest instincts.
The former president simultaneously called for unity and upholding America's core values as a nation built on ideas, not race or origin.
"That’s why when we uphold our values, the world’s a little brighter — when we don’t, the world’s a little dimmer, and dictators and autocrats feel emboldened, and over time we become less safe" the former president noted.
He also emphasized that both Harris and vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz come from the middle class and are, in his view, models of the kind of people who should be in politics.
Michelle Obama: The time has come to stand up for what is right
Even though Obama was the main speaker of Tuesday evening, the biggest impression on the 20,000-strong audience at the United Center in Chicago was made by his wife Michelle, who urged Democratic supporters to make efforts to mobilize voters and win the election. She admitted that although recently, like many others, she felt a "tangible sense of fear about the future," the past few weeks—and the improving electoral prospects for Kamala Harris—restored her hope.
"It is up to all of us to be the antidote to all the darkness and division. I don't care how you identify politically; whether you're a Democrat, Republican, independent, or none of the above, this is our time to stand up for what we know is right.To stand up not just for our basic freedoms but for decency and humanity, for basic respect, dignity, and empathy. For the values at the very foundation of this democracy." the former First Lady said.
"It's up to us to remember what Kamala's mother told her: Don't just sit around and complain - do something!" she added.
Like her husband, Michelle Obama criticized Trump, mocking him and recalling the conspiracy theories he promoted about the former president and his allegedly forged birth certificate.
"For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happened to be Black. [...] Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those "Black jobs"?" the former First Lady quipped.
