Michelle Obama: 'Trump is the Wrong President' for America
Former first lady claims POTUS is 'in over his head' during Democratic National Convention
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Michelle Obama has attacked her POTUS during the Democratic National Convention on Monday, claiming that "Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country."
The former first lady used her closing speech during the first night of the convention to directly attack President Trump's leadership, claiming he is "clearly in over his head."
Speaking during a pre-recorded message from her $11.75 million Martha's Vineyard home, Obama claimed Trump "has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job."
Her anti-Trump tirade came at the end of the first night of the Democrats' virtual convention.
The event had already seen four former top Republicans call on other GOP voters to back Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders vowing he would work with conservatives to defeat the president.
In perhaps the lowest move of the night, Democrats also wheeled out a bereaved daughter to blame the president for her father's death from COVID-19.
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The former first lady framed her argument against Trump in terms of watching her husband up close, which she has repeatedly used after leaving the White House.
"Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," she said.
"He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head.
"He cannot meet this moment," she claimed.
"He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is."
It was a rare political punch from Michelle Obama, who typically stays out of the fray.
She didn't campaign in the 2018 election and had thus far limited her participation to encouraging people to vote this year.
But, on Monday, she made it clear she wants Trump out of office, warning things will "get worse" if he's re-elected.
"So if you take one thing from my words tonight, it is this: if you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don't make a change in this election," she said.
WATCH:
Michelle Obama: "Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is." #DNC2020 pic.twitter.com/dkOIf05nwk
— The Hill (@thehill) August 18, 2020
Obama's speech handed the Democrats a rallying-cry to her husband's voting coalition, as well as a made-for-social media series of soundbites.
She used her time to encourage people to vote, to attack President Trump, and tout Biden's candidacy.
Obama made it crystal clear what she wanted those watching to do: a Biden for president campaign sign was visible behind the former first lady during her remarks.
And she wore a silver necklace that spelled out V-O-T-E.
"Whenever we look to this White House for some leadership or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division, and a total and utter lack of empathy," she said of President Trump.
She wrapped up her nearly 20-minute address with a plea for Joe Biden's candidacy.
"If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it," she said.
"I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man, guided by faith," she claimed.
"He was a terrific vice president.
"He knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic, and lead our country.
"And he listens. He will tell the truth and trust science.
"He will make smart plans and manage a good team.
"And he will govern as someone who's lived a life that the rest of us can recognize."
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She also touched on Democratic fears that President Trump would try to delegitimize the election should Biden win.
"We have to vote for Joe Biden in numbers that cannot be ignored.
"Because right now, folks who know they cannot win fair and square at the ballot box are doing everything they can to stop us from voting," she said.
President Trump has repeatedly warned about the risks associated with mail-in voting that Democrats are pushing for voters to use during the coronavirus pandemic.
Democrats fear he would not hand over the White House if Biden wins in November.
"The only way we lose this election is if this election is rigged," Trump told supporters in Wisconsin on Monday.
"We’ve got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they’re received," Obama urged viewers.
"And then, make sure our friends and families do the same," she added.
