President Obama condemns Donald Trump and forcefully backs Hillary Clinton in farewell DNC speech
President Obama painted Donald Trump as a dangerous threat to American democracy and forcefully backed Hillary Clinton in a rousing valedictory address to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night.
Obama circled around to some of the ideas and catchphrases of his first convention speech in 2004 in what could be one of his last major public speeches as president:
“Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me. I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me. Because you’re who I was talking about twelve years ago, when I talked about hope – it’s been you who’ve fueled my dogged faith in our future, even when the odds are great; even when the road is long. Hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty; the audacity of hope!”
Obama gave a strong endorsement of Clinton, linking her to some of the major accomplishments of his presidential tenure. Contrasted against Trump’s lack of political experience, Obama painted Clinton as someone who knew the demands of the job and was ready to step into the role.
“And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman—not me, not Bill—more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America,” Obama said, turning to face former President Bill Clinton in the audience. “I’m sorry Bill, I’m just telling the truth.”
He also spent a good portion of his speech directly condemning Trump, saying that his vision of America was in marked contrast to democratic values.
“Our power doesn’t come from some self-declared savior promising that he alone can restore order. We don’t look to be ruled,” he said.
He issued a condemnation of “fascists or communists or jihadists or homegrown demagogues” who will “always fail in the end.” He did not name Trump specifically, but nobody failed to get the message.
Trump himself reacted to the speech on Twitter, scoffing at Obama’s insistence that, in contrast to the Republican’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, “America is already great.”
His campaign also released a statement saying that Obama, and the rest of the night’s speakers, had sketched out a portrait of the country which was at odds with the realities of peoples’ lives.
Clinton briefly joined Obama on stage at the conclusion of the speech, where the two soaked up the jubilant reaction from the crowd.
She will address the convention during its final evening on Thursday.
Watch Obama’s full speech below: