Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama questioned former President Donald Trump’s “competence” during a Tuesday night rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in Detroit.
Obama cited the length and tone of Trump’s speeches, saying that “he’ll give two-and-a-half hour speeches, just a word salad. You don’t know what the heck he’s saying.”
“Here’s the point, Detroit. If your grandpa was acting like this, you’d be worried. You’d call up your sister, your brother, your cousin. You’d be all like, ‘Let me holler at you. Have you noticed Grandpa, he acting a little funny?’ But this is somebody who wants unchecked power,” Obama said.
“We do not need to see what an older, loonier, Donald Trump looks like with no guardrails.”
Obama also held a rally earlier on Tuesday in Madison, Wis., with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee. More than 12,000 people attended Obama’s rally at Huntington Place, where Trump held a rally last week.
“I heard there was another rally here on Friday night, but it was a little smaller than this one,” Obama said.
While Trump had Detroit rapper Trick Trick introduce him at his rally, Obama was introduced by Eminem.
Eminem takes the stage at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
“As most of you know, the city of Detroit and the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me. Going into this election, the spotlight is on us more than ever, and I think it’s important to use your voice, so I’m encouraging everybody to get out and vote,” Eminem said.
“I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution, what people will do if you make your opinion known,” Eminem said. “I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”
Obama recited the first lines of “Lose Yourself” shortly after taking the stage, joking that “I thought Eminem was going to be performing. I was going to jump out.”
The two-term Democratic former president asked the crowd to imagine if he, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) stood on stage and swayed to music for more than 30 minutes, as Trump did during a recent town hall.
“Now, I will say, our playlist might be better,” Obama said. “I’d have ‘Lose Yourself’ on there.”
Slotkin, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan who is facing former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), joined Obama on stage for the duration of his speech.
Obama recalled the briefings he would receive from Slotkin when she served as an intelligence officer during his presidency.
“Elissa don’t play,” Obama said.
Slotkin said it was a “full circle moment” to join Obama at the rally.
“I will also say that he’s gotten a lot more chill,” Slotkin said. “I saw him at the [Democratic National] Convention; he was wearing no socks. He was chilling out.”
Detroit Lions Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Detroit Lions Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson also spoke at the rally, responding to Trump pointing to Detroit as an example of the United States being a “third-world” nation and arguing that the whole country would be like Detroit if Harris is elected president.
“During my playing days, if anyone said anything negative about Detroit, I made sure they felt me on Sunday,” Johnson said. “So Detroit, let’s make sure Trump feels us at the ballot box come Election Day.”
Johnson is part of the group Athletes for Harris. NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnsonpreviously spoke at a rally with Harris in Flint.
Trump partiallywalked back his comments during his rally in the city last week, predicting a “stunning rebirth for Detroit” if he is successful in his bid for a second term.
Obama repeatedly emphasized the importance of voting, highlighting the various options people have to cast a ballot with in-person early voting already underway in Detroit and beginning in the rest of the state Oct. 26.
As of Tuesday, Detroit voters had returned 59,474 of 108,649 requested absentee ballots, according to data from the secretary of state’s office.
“Whether this election is making you feel excited or scared or hopeful or frustrated, or anything in between, do not sit back and hope for the best,” Obama said. “I know I’m the hope guy, but don’t just hope. Get off your couch and vote! Put down your phone and vote!”
Both the Trump and Harris campaigns have encouraged voters to cast their ballots early this year — although that is a marked change in rhetoric for Trump, who spread numerous false conspiracy theories about absentee voting in 2020.
Obama discussed the pro-Trump protests at Huntington Center — which was named the TCF Center in 2020 — while absentee ballots were being tabulated that followed as a result.
A court filing submitted earlier this month by special counsel Jack Smith alleges that a member of Trump’s campaign staff said to “make people riot.”
“One of the most disturbing things about this election, about Trump’s rise in politics, is how so many of us, even good people that we know, seem somehow suddenly to be willing to set aside values that we were taught,” Obama said.
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
“No matter where you stand on the issues, why would you go along with that? If your coworkers act like that, they wouldn’t be your coworkers for very long. If you had a family member who acted like that, you might still love them, but you wouldn’t put them in charge of anything. You wouldn’t trust them,” Obama said.
“And yet, when Donald Trump lies or cheats or shows utter disregard for our Constitution, when he calls service members who died in battle ‘losers,’ when he calls fellow citizens ‘vermin,’ we make excuses for it. We act like it’s OK, or at least, those who say they’re supporting them. They say, ‘Well, he’s just joking, or it’s not that serious, or as long as we win, that’s how politics is played.’ No, it’s not.”
Obama argued that progress is gradual, but that voting can directly impact your life, citing 50 million people who have signed up for health care through the Affordable Care Act, one of the landmark policy achievements of his administration.
“Everybody here, everybody in this auditorium knows somebody who would not have had health insurance if it hadn’t been for that bill,” Obama said.
When an audience member shouted out, “Thanks, Obama!” the former president responded, “No, no, look, I’m not doing – I’m using this as an example to tell you that a little bit of change for the better makes a difference.”
Obama also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example that “nobody talks about any more, and I don’t know why we don’t talk about it.”
He said that as many as 600,000 American deaths could have been avoided had Trump followed a pandemic “playbook” his administration developed while monitoring the H1N1 virus and the Ebola virus.
Former President Barack Obama waves to audience members after speaking at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama greets audience members after speaking at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama greets audience members after speaking at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama greets audience members after speaking at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama greets audience members after speaking at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama greets audience members after speaking at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama, right, and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama, right, and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama greets Eminem and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Former President Barack Obama takes the stage at a rally in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Eminem speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. He is joined on stage by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Eminem speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Eminem takes the stage at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Eminem takes the stage at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Eminem takes the stage at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Eminem greets Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Eminem speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Audience members at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Audience members at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Audience members at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., speaks at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Detroit Lions Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson greets audience members at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Detroit Lions Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson greets audience members at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Audience members at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets attendees at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham, at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, at a rally with former President Barack Obama in Detroit, Mich., on Oct. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)
“I handed him this playbook, and he just, I guess, dropped it in the trash bin,” Obama said.
“Some of those folks might be alive if we have a competent president who actually is paying attention and doing their homework, and actually trying to make things better, as opposed to telling people, ‘Go ahead and inject bleach. That might work,’” Obama said.
Obama also took credit for handing Trump economic success found during the early months of his successor’s administration.
“I’ve been talking to people around the country. And sometimes I hear people say, ‘Well, yeah, I know Trump is kind of goofy, but I do remember the economy when he first came in. It was pretty good,’” Obama said. “And I say, ‘Yeah, it was good because it was my economy.’ I know y’all remember it. I know folks in Detroit remember it. I spent eight years cleaning up the mess that Republicans left me.”
“By the time I left office, I handed over to Donald Trump 75 straight months of job growth,” Obama added. “Yeah, the economy was good, because we did the work.”
Obama said he has also heard from some voters that they support Trump because he “seems tough.”
“I am here to tell you that is not what real strength is. It never has been. Real strength is about working hard, all those guys showing up every day on the factory floor, busting their butts to support their families. That’s real strength,” Obama said. “Real strength is taking responsibility for your actions and upholding your duty. Real strength is about telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient.”
