Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday night took the stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) amid a thunderous ovation, while highlighting the beliefs of Vice President Kamala Harris and accusing Donald Trump of putting himself above the good of the United States.
While speaking about Trump’s relationship with power, Obama said Trump sees it as a “means to his ends.” Obama continued, “he killed a bipartisan immigration deal, written in part by one of the most conservative Republicans in Congress. That would have helped secure our southern border, because he thought trying to actually solve the problem would hurt his campaign.”
Obama’s comment about Trump was met with a wave of boos; however, Obama did not revel in them, but called out the crowd: “Do no boo; vote.” The crowd erupted in cheers.
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s campaign via email on Tuesday night for comment.
Obama has repeatedly urged a call to action during campaign events, including while addressing supporters at the 2016 DNC in Philadelphia while supporting then-Democratic presidential nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton‘s campaign against Trump.
Democrats have repeatedly blamed Trump for tanking a $118 billion bipartisan border safety bill that failed to pass the Senate in the spring. The measure, which garnered the support of some GOP lawmakers and President Joe Biden, would have enacted tougher immigration laws and increased federal agents along the U.S. southern border with Mexico. Polling shows that immigration reform is among voters’ top issues.
Before the vote on the border bill, Trump bashed the measure in a post to his Truth Social account in February, writing that the bill “is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party.” House Speaker Mike Johnson also said at the time that the bipartisan deal would be “dead on arrival” in his GOP-controlled chamber.
Obama, a former two-term president, started his speech Tuesday noting his relationship with Biden, his former vice president and friend. Biden stepped aside as his party’s nominee in late July after facing pressure from fellow Democrats. Obama reportedly talked to Biden about dropping out of the race behind closed doors, although the former president never came out publicly against his ex-running mate.
“History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding president who defended democracy at a moment of danger,” Obama said. “I am proud to call him my president, but I am even prouder to call him my friend.”
Former first lady Michelle Obama also took the DNC stage on Tuesday, during which she accused Trump of trying to make people “fear” her and her husband.
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us,” she said.
“See, his [Trump’s] limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happened to be Black,” Michelle Obama added.