Former President Barack Obama delivered a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, offering support for Kamala Harris and criticizing Donald Trump.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Obama resurrected his iconic "hope" and "change" message from his 2008 campaign to energize the crowd. He led chants of "Yes she can" for Harris, echoing his own "Yes we can" slogan from years past.
Obama took aim at Trump during his address, mocking the former president's "weird obsession" with crowd sizes and comparing him to an annoying neighbor. The speech came after Obama's aides reportedly played a role in encouraging President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race, paving the way for Harris to become the party's nominee.
Obama's speech focused heavily on passing the torch to Harris, drawing parallels between her candidacy and his own unlikely rise to the presidency. He emphasized the historic nature of potentially electing Harris as the first woman and person of color to the nation's highest office.
The former president led the crowd in chants of "Yes she can," adapting his famous campaign slogan to show his enthusiastic support for Harris. Obama praised Harris's qualifications and expressed confidence in her ability to lead the country.
Obama also took time to commend Biden's decision to step aside, calling it an act of putting "his own ambition aside for the sake of the country." He described Biden as a steady leader during a time of political turbulence.
Obama did not hold back in his criticism of Trump, using humor and pointed remarks to attack the former president's character and governing style. He mocked Trump's fixation on crowd sizes, a recurring theme throughout Trump's presidency.
Barack Obama stated:
Here's a 78-year-old billionaire who has not 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. The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to this neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of the day. From a neighbor, that's exhausting. From a president, it's just dangerous.
Obama's speech went beyond personal attacks on Trump and criticized the Republican Party as a whole. He accused the GOP of becoming a "cult of personality" and warned against the dangers of returning to what he described as "bluster and chaos" under Republican leadership.
While much of Obama's speech focused on supporting Harris and criticizing Trump, he also used his time to energize Democrats for the upcoming election campaign. He cautioned that despite the enthusiasm in the convention hall, the race would likely be close in a deeply divided country.
Obama urged supporters not to become complacent, warning of potential low points ahead in the campaign. He emphasized the importance of grassroots organizing and voter turnout, echoing his own background as a community organizer.
The former president also touched on broader themes, critiquing the role of social media in modern society and calling for a return to more meaningful connections. He argued that the constant pursuit of online validation has left many feeling isolated and alone.
Obama's convention speech served multiple purposes: it offered a full-throated endorsement of Kamala Harris, criticized Donald Trump and the Republican Party, and rallied Democratic voters for the upcoming election. By resurrecting elements of his own successful campaigns, Obama sought to transfer some of his political magic to Harris. His remarks set the stage for a contentious general election campaign, with Democrats hoping to maintain control of the White House in what is expected to be a closely fought race.
