Former President Barack Obama took to the stage at the DNC on Tuesday evening, delivering a speech that was as much about his own fixation on Donald Trump as it was about supporting his friend, President Joe Biden. Obama’s address quickly turned into a scathing critique of the Republican nominee, with the 44th president seemingly obsessed with Trump’s every move.
Obama began by praising Biden, but it wasn’t long before he shifted his focus to Trump, launching a series of attacks that felt more like petty jabs than substantive critiques. “The people who will decide this election are asking a simple question: Who will fight for me?” Obama said, before implying that Trump is too self-absorbed to care about the concerns of everyday Americans.
Obama painted Trump as a billionaire with a bad attitude, constantly whining about his problems and peddling “childish nicknames” and “crazy conspiracy theories.” He likened Trump to a noisy neighbor, annoying but ultimately harmless, until he’s given the power of the presidency. “It’s exhausting when it’s just a neighbor, but it’s dangerous when it’s the President of the United States,” Obama warned.
The former president also accused Trump of being driven by a desire for power, rather than a genuine interest in serving the American people. He claimed that Trump’s tax cuts would primarily benefit the wealthy, including himself, and that he had sabotaged a bipartisan immigration deal to further his own campaign.
Obama’s speech took a personal turn when he attacked Trump’s record on women’s rights, implying that the Republican nominee is callous and uncaring. He also accused Trump of trying to divide the country, pitting “real Americans” against outsiders. However, this criticism rang hollow, given Obama’s own divisive rhetoric throughout the speech.
In contrast, Obama presented Kamala Harris as a breath of fresh air, a leader who is focused on the needs of others rather than her own problems. He praised her as a hard worker who has earned her place in politics, glossing over her privileged upbringing and questionable career boosts.
He also claimed that Harris “was not born into privilege” but “had to work for what she’s got.” Notably, Obama did not mention that Harris grew up in the most upscale neighborhood in Montreal, which was also the richest one in all of Canada. Obama also failed to mention the career boost Harris received in relation to her romantic relationship with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
As Obama wrapped up his speech, he urged Americans to reject Trump’s “stale” message and instead choose a “new chapter” with Harris at the helm. He described her as the kind of neighbor who rushes to help in times of need, a far cry from the noisy, self-absorbed Trump.
