The Obamas took the stage for night two of the Democratic National Convention. As expected, the mainstream media rushed to celebrate everything Barack and Michelle had to say.
But among the general population, it remains to be seen whether the former president’s rhetoric will have any real impact on the growing popularity Donald Trump has attracted among Black men in particular.
For his part, CNN contributor Shermichael Singleton wasn’t convinced that Obama has that much influence.
According to the Daily Caller:
“I can certainly understand why Democrats would presume that — first African-American man [who was] president, right? A lot of black men respect the former president. A lot of them were excited about him when he first ran. I remember being in college [at] that time,” Singleton said. “However, black men have seen in many ways erosion of their economic power.”
“Black men are not graduating college at the same rates of black women. Men in general are not graduating from college or ascertaining the same economic gains in many regards, as women. So I do think that is a part of the reason you have seen since the end of former President Obama’s tenure a movement of men broadly speaking to Republicans,” Singleton said.
There’s been mounting evidence in recent months that Black men are eager to help secure a second Trump term:
A Couple Of Weeks Ago, 30% of Black Men Are Supporting Trump. (Up from 13% in 2020)
From Harlem, NY. – "I'm Gonna To Take A Chance & Vote For Trump" – From Me: Thank You, You Will NOT Be Sorry.
Anyone Else Believe The Percentages Are Only Going To Increase Come Nov? pic.twitter.com/dBE8NxZNwI
— Dustie (@DustieDahl) April 24, 2024
💯: I ain't ever been able to get jiggy with Trump culture, but as a Black MAN in an 🇺🇸 that seems hell-bent on turning men (especially Black men) into something else, if I gotta choose between Trump and 4 more years of Saucy Santana, I'm going to vote for Trump. Enuff is Enuff pic.twitter.com/xr7RRcTHiS
— Apex Jones (@ApexJones22) November 9, 2023
🚨 The support for Donald Trump from black men is reaching unprecedented heights.
“I was about to choose the couch. But now I’m voting for Trump.” pic.twitter.com/ZsJilpZ6TA
— Philip Anderson (@VoteHarrisOut) July 14, 2024
The Tennessean provided some coverage of Barack Obama’s remarks as well as Trump’s reaction to them:
Barack Obama took the time to thank his former vice president and current President Joe Biden, while he blasted his White House successor Trump and the campaign he is running after Harris took over the mantle of Democratic presidential nominee.
“It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually been getting worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala,” Barack Obama told the convention crowd. “There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes. It just goes on and on and on.”
The former president then took aim at Trump’s rhetoric around immigration and women’s reproductive rights.
“The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day,” Barack Obama said. “Now from a neighbor, that’s exhausting. From a president, it’s just dangerous.”
Trump was not too thrilled with Barack and Michelle Obama’s comments at the national convention.
“Did you see Barack Hussein Obama last night take shots? He was taking shots at your president,” Trump said at a rally in Asheboro, North Carolina on Wednesday the day after the Obamas spoke at the Democratic National Convention.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon discovered firsthand how much support Trump has during a recent conversation with voters:
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