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Former U.S. President Barack Obama made his first appearance on the 2024 campaign trail Thursday, using a rally in Pennsylvania to sharply criticize Donald Trump and rally support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Speaking at a charged event in Pittsburgh, Obama attacked Trump’s leadership, describing his behavior and conspiracy theories as “crazy” and questioning his ability to connect with ordinary Americans.
Obama, who remains a popular figure within the Democratic Party, warned that the upcoming election would be close, acknowledging that many voters were still grappling with high costs.
However, he expressed confusion over why some people believed Trump would improve things, sarcastically asking, “You think Donald Trump ever changed a diaper?”
He also addressed male voters, particularly Black men, many of whom polls show have been hesitant to support Harris.
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Obama suggested that some men might be uncomfortable with the idea of a woman president, saying, “I’ve got a problem with that,” and calling for more reflection on their hesitancy.
Obama defended Harris’s readiness for the presidency, asserting that “Kamala is as prepared for the job as any nominee for president has ever been,” while urging the crowd to vote instead of just booing Trump.
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As part of his broader critique of Trump, Obama drew a comparison between the former president’s lengthy speeches and those of Fidel Castro, while mocking Trump’s plans to sell bibles as “crazy.”
He also condemned Trump’s reliance on machismo and bullying, telling male voters that true strength does not come from putting others down.
Earlier, during a surprise stop at a campaign field office, Obama made a direct appeal to Black men, stressing that the stakes were too high for them to sit out the election.
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Meanwhile, Harris was in Nevada and Arizona on Thursday, focusing on Latino voters and addressing the recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton in Florida.
Responding to a question about Trump’s virtues, she said she believed Trump loved his family but didn’t know him well enough to offer much more.
In Michigan, Trump outlined his protectionist plans for the U.S. auto industry, including heavy tariffs on vehicles not made in America, while launching fresh personal attacks on Harris, labeling her “dumber than hell.”
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He also criticized Detroit, warning that the entire country could end up like the city under Harris’s leadership.
Harris is set to participate in a CNN town hall on October 23 in Pennsylvania after Trump declined a second debate with her, a decision Harris described as a “weak move.”
Democrats are hoping that Obama’s involvement in the campaign will energize voters in key battleground states and help Harris regain momentum after weeks of a tight race with Trump.
Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama had previously delivered well-received speeches endorsing Harris at the Democratic National Convention in August.
