Former US President Barack Obama took aim at Donald Trump on Thursday night, October 10, calling him “crazy” while urging voters to support Kamala Harris as he made his debut on the 2024 election campaign trail.
Speaking in the crucial state of Pennsylvania, Obama also criticized some Black male voters for their reluctance to back Democrat Harris, suggesting it might be due to discomfort with the idea of a woman president.
During a lively rally in Pittsburgh, Obama directed much of his criticism at Trump, comparing his long speeches to those of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and calling the billionaire out of touch with ordinary Americans. “What I don’t understand is why anyone thinks Donald Trump will shake things up,” he said, adding, “You think Donald Trump ever changed a diaper?”
Obama also mocked Trump’s attempts to sell Bibles as “crazy,” and used the same term to describe the former president’s support for conspiracy theories.
As the crowd jeered at the mention of Trump, Obama quickly responded, “Don’t boo — vote.” He emphasized Harris’s qualifications, saying, “Kamala is as prepared for the job as any presidential nominee has ever been.”
Harris’s campaign described Obama’s appearance, the first of several in key battleground states leading up to the November 5 election, as a push to mobilize voters, particularly in Pennsylvania.
Obama also addressed male voters who might be drawn to Trump’s “masculine” appeal. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I’ve noticed some men think Trump’s bullying and putting people down is a sign of strength,” he remarked.
In a direct message to the Black community, Obama urged them to reconsider any hesitancy toward Harris. “You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses, and I’ve got a problem with that,” he said, specifically calling out men who might be uncomfortable with the idea of a woman in the White House.
Meanwhile, Harris was campaigning in Nevada at a town hall hosted by Univision and later spoke at a rally in Arizona. When asked by a woman to name three virtues of Trump, Harris responded, “I think Donald Trump loves his family, and that’s important… But to be honest, I don’t really know him well enough to say much more.”
