Obama Denounces Trump: ‘Do Not Let Them Take Away Our Democracy’
Former President Barack Obama gave his harshest rebuke of his successor yet on Wednesday night. On the third night of the virtual Democratic National Convention, Obama delivered a speech urging Americans to vote in November and reject President Donald Trump.
“He has shown no interest in putting in the work. No interest in finding common ground,” Obama said.
“No interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends,” he said. “No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.”
Obama said “our worst impulses unleashed, our proud reputation around the world badly diminished, and our democratic institutions threatened like never before” and complained of “the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and the conspiracy theories.”
The former President then issued a warning about American democracy itself.
“Do not let them take away your power,” Obama urged. “Do not let them take away your democracy.”
Trump responded in remarks at the White House and on Twitter. He reiterated criticisms he’s already made about Obama on several occasions, but did not respond to the substance of Obama’s remarks or his warnings about democracy.
