Michelle Obama attacked Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the Democratic National Convention, criticizing his character and the racist attacks that targeted her and her husband, Barack Obama, in the past. She stated about Trump: "His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two successful, well-educated individuals, who also happen to be Black."
Michelle Obama mocked Trump for referring during his campaign to "the jobs that Black people hold" that he claims are being taken by immigrants coming to the United States. She questioned, "Who will tell him that the job he is currently seeking could just be one of the jobs held by Black people?" This elicited cheers from the audience.
Trump and his campaign denied allegations of using racial attacks. Trump began his political career with unfounded and racist attacks questioning Barack Obama's birthplace in the United States and his citizenship, and similar attacks were made against Kamala Harris. In her memoir published in 2018, titled "Becoming," Michelle Obama wrote that Trump's attacks questioning Barack Obama's citizenship endangered her family's safety and involved "blind bigotry and xenophobia."
Michelle Obama was speaking in support of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who would officially accept the party's presidential nomination at the convention. If Harris succeeds in the elections, she would become the first Black and South Asian American president. Trump, some Congressional Republicans, and right-wing activists and online committees launched racist and sexist attacks against Harris, which intensified after she announced her presidential campaign in July, following current President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race.
