Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, delivered a powerful and scathing critique of former President Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention, held in her hometown of Chicago. Her 20-minute speech has been widely praised for its sharp wit and poignant commentary on Trump’s political tactics and personal character.
In her address, Michelle Obama deftly lampooned Trump, particularly focusing on his exploitation of race for political gain. She directly confronted Trump’s history of racially charged rhetoric, referencing his infamous promotion of the false conspiracy theory that questioned the legitimacy of her husband, Barack Obama, as President of the United States.
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. His limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black,” Obama stated, drawing attention to Trump’s long-standing hostility towards the Obama administration.
The former First Lady’s speech was filled with memorable lines that resonated with the audience, both in the convention hall and across social media. One particularly biting remark came in response to Trump’s use of the term “Black jobs” during a televised debate with Joe Biden in June, where Trump suggested that illegal immigrants posed an economic threat to African Americans. Michelle Obama quipped, “I want to know, ‘Who’s going to tell him?’ Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?” The comment was met with prolonged cheers from the delegates and quickly became a viral moment online.
Michelle Obama’s speech was not solely focused on Trump; she also took the opportunity to praise Kamala Harris, the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee. Obama highlighted Harris’s understanding of the systemic challenges faced by many Americans, particularly those from marginalized communities. “She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth,” Obama remarked, in a subtle but pointed reference to Trump’s inherited wealth and privileged upbringing.
In a clever twist, Obama turned the tables on Trump by using the term “affirmative action”—a phrase often criticized by right-wing Republicans when applied to government-mandated racial quotas—to allude to Trump’s wealth and status as the son of a successful property magnate.
Michelle Obama also drew on imagery from Trump’s own political career to underscore the differences between their perspectives. Referring to Trump’s famous descent down a golden escalator in Trump Tower in 2015 to announce his presidential campaign, she contrasted this with the everyday struggles faced by many Black and other marginalized Americans. “If we see a mountain in front of us, we don’t expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top,” Obama said, using the metaphor to emphasize the resilience and determination required by those who face systemic obstacles in their lives.
The former First Lady even revisited her iconic 2016 Democratic Convention speech, where she coined the phrase “when they go low, we go high.” This time, however, she suggested a different approach, framing Trump as insignificant and arguing that his tactics were petty and unpresidential. “Going small is never the answer,” she declared. “Small is petty, it’s unhealthy and, quite frankly, it’s unpresidential.”
Michelle Obama’s speech was met with widespread acclaim. The New York Times noted her shift from “when they go low, we go high” to “when they go low, we call it out,” while MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow described it as “one of the best convention speeches I’ve ever seen by anybody in any circumstance … because it was subtle and deep and thought-provoking and surprising … Just a stunning speech.”
The speech was also praised for its strategic use of humor and mockery to demystify Trump, a tactic that aligns with the approach taken by other prominent Democrats like Tim Walz, the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, who has branded Trump and his fellow MAGA Republicans as “weird.”
Barack Obama, who followed his wife’s speech with his own remarks, continued the theme of disdain for Trump, delivering a series of putdowns that recalled his famous mockery of Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner—a moment often credited with spurring Trump’s decision to run for president. “This is a 78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago,” Barack Obama said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Reflecting on the possibility of a second Trump administration, Barack Obama warned, “We don’t need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos; we have seen that movie before – and we all know that the sequel’s usually worse.”
Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention marks a significant moment in the 2024 election campaign, showcasing her enduring influence and ability to connect with voters through a combination of sharp political commentary and heartfelt personal reflection. As the campaign progresses, her words are likely to continue resonating with those who seek to challenge Trump’s vision for America.
