Michelle Obama delivered a scathing speech in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday, October 26, 2024, where she blasted Donald Trump for his “gross incompetence” and “amoral character.”
The former First Lady was speaking at a rally for Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, and urged Americans to choose Harris as the country’s first female president.
Obama emphasized Harris’s readiness for the presidency, stating,
“By every measure, she has demonstrated that she’s ready. The real question is, as a country, are we ready for this moment?”
She also questioned why Harris was being held to a higher standard than Trump, citing his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his failed attempt to cling to power after losing the 2020 election as disqualifying factors.
Obama expressed frustration that some people were ignoring Trump’s incompetence while expecting Harris to excel at every turn.
“I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m a little frustrated that some of us are choosing to ignore Donald Trump’s gross incompetence while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn,” she said. A member of the audience responded with a resounding “Preach!”
The event, dubbed “Kamala-zoo” by Obama, marked her first appearance on the campaign trail since her rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention in August.
Obama emphasized that voters should choose Harris not solely because she’s a woman but because “Kamala Harris is a grown-up – and Lord knows we need a grown-up in the White House.”
Following Obama’s speech, Harris took the stage, pledging to be a president who listens to the American people, unlike Trump, whom she accused of being self-absorbed.
“Just imagine the Oval Office in three months,” Harris said. “It is either Donald Trump in there stewing over his enemies’ list – or me working for you, checking off my to-do list.”
Obama and Harris also addressed Trump’s lack of credibility on women’s issues, particularly reproductive health. Obama lamented the lack of research on women’s health and racial disparities in treatment, urging men to consider the harm caused by revoking basic care from women. “I am asking y’all, from the core of my being, to take our lives seriously,” Obama said. “If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage.”
The Harris campaign has deployed leading figures, including Barack Obama, Eminem, Beyoncé, and Bruce Springsteen, to boost support in the final stretch. With polls showing a dead heat, Harris and Trump are vying for Michigan’s 15 electoral votes, a critical state in the Democratic path to the White House.
