Former President Barack Obama delivered an unbelievable and intense account of his successor
Former President Obama President Donald delivered an astonishing and in-depth account of the first four years of his successor Mr Trump’s term in office in Philadelphia, during which he made his most direct attacks on President Donald Trump, both in terms of content and on a personal level.
The event is Obama’s first stump speech for his former vice president, a welcome sight to Democrats who see the former president as Joe Biden’s most potent character witness and a key factor in encouraging Black men, Latinos and younger voters to come out in their numbers and vote.
He gave a leveling of both substantive critiques like questioning Trump’s tax policy and handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as personal barbs, jabbing at shrinking ratings for the President’s speeches and town halls. The former President wasted no time lacing into Trump, opening the remarks by mocking him for telling an audience in Erie, Pennsylvania that he would not have visited the area if not for the coronavirus hurting his political fortunes.
The remarks drilled down on years of Democratic concerns about the President, with Obama arguing that Trump’s presidency has not only changed the way other countries view the United States but restructured the way Americans feel about politics.
“I never thought Donald Trump would embrace my vision or continue my polices, but I did hope for the sake of the country, that he might show some interest in taking the job seriously,” Obama said. “But it hasn’t happened. He hasn’t showed any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends.”
The former President directly attacked Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, the issue that is dominating the 2020 campaign.
“220,000 people in the United States. Really?” Obama asked. “Not much? Nothing you can think of that could have helped some people keep their loved ones alive?”
As Obama spoke at the drive-in rally, standing against the backdrop of Lincoln Financial Field, people sounded air horns and car horns in approval throughout his speech. People stood at a distance, waving flags and banners against the setting sun.
“This is not a reality show, this is reality,” Obama added, taking particular aim at Trump on the coronavirus crisis. “Four years ago, you’d be tailgating here instead of watching a speech from your car.”
After Obama suggested Trump uses the presidency to boost his own profile, he added, “Even then, his TV ratings are down. So you know that upsets him.” And when he noted that Trump inherited a booming economy from him, Obama added, but “just like everything else he inherited, he messed it up.”
Obama also trumpeted Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, throughout the speech, saying that while he didn’t know Biden well when they both served in the Senate, he “came to admire Joe as a man who has learned early on to treat everyone that he meets with dignity and respect.”
Obama said Biden would “never call the men and women of our military suckers and losers,” citing a bombshell report on Trump from The Atlantic.
