Former First Lady Michelle Obama reemerged in the political arena on Tuesday night, returning to her birthplace, Chicago, to mobilize support for Vice President Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention.
She was welcomed with thunderous applause from the convention attendees, reminding Americans why she remains a paramount voice within the party—even from a less prominent role. Obama reminisced about her longstanding friendship with Harris, a bond that spans over two decades, and expressed a shared optimistic outlook for the future, while acknowledging the somber realities of the challenges the party faces in the lead-up to the November election.
“Our fate is in our hands,” Obama stated. “In 77 days, we have the power to steer our country away from the fear, division, and narrow-mindedness of the past. We have the power to harmonize our hope with our actions.”
Obama’s address before Democratic lawmakers and delegates held particular significance given her relatively low profile throughout this election cycle. She has consistently avoided the contentious nature of partisan politics, opting instead to focus on broader societal issues through her initiatives and public speaking appearances.
However, Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, continue to enjoy widespread popularity among Democrats—one reason why her name was considered as a potential alternative to lead the ticket after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. The Obamas quickly endorsed Harris following Biden’s withdrawal, stating that she possesses the character and experience to rise to the occasion.
“She is one of the most qualified individuals to ever seek the office of the presidency,” Obama declared on Tuesday night, directly preceding a . “And she is one of the most dignified—a tribute to her mother, to my mother, and likely to your mother too. The embodiment of the stories we tell ourselves about this country. Her story is your story. It’s my story. It’s the story of the vast majority of Americans striving to build a better life.”
Here are some of the most notable moments from Michelle Obama’s DNC speech.
‘Hope is making a comeback’
The former First Lady reintroduced the message of hope that became the slogan of her husband’s earlier political campaigns, commending the newfound energy surrounding the Harris campaign.
Obama commenced her speech by referencing a “contagious power of hope,” telling the convention attendees that “something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it?”
“You know what I’m talking about? It’s the contagious power of hope!” she exclaimed. “The exhilaration of once again being on the brink of a brighter day… America, hope is making a comeback.”
‘Do something’
However, Obama cautioned that optimism should not lead to complacency, and she urged the audience to take direct action in the weeks ahead to ensure Harris’s victory and defeat former President Donald Trump.
“As we embrace this renewed sense of hope, let us not forget the despair we have felt,” she said, reminding Democrats of the stakes of the election and acknowledging that they face an “uphill battle.”
“It’s up to us to remember what Kamala’s mother told her: ‘Don’t just sit around and complain. Do something,’” Obama added, as the convention crowd chanted: “Do something! Do something!”
‘Kamala Harris is more than ready’
Obama referred to Harris as “one of the most qualified individuals to ever seek the office of the presidency” and specifically highlighted her background—raised by an immigrant mother from a middle-class family, attending a historically Black university, and working her way up to the vice presidency.
“Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment,” Obama stated. “Kamala knows, as we do, that regardless of where you come from, what you look like, who you love, how you worship, or what’s in your bank account, we all deserve the opportunity to build a decent life. All of our contributions deserve to be accepted and valued. Because no one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American.”
The presidency ‘might just be one of those Black jobs’
Obama devoted a portion of her speech to addressing the racist rhetoric and attack lines that have been directed at Harris, warning that people “are going to do everything they can to distort” her background and accomplishments. “My husband and I, sadly, know a little something about this,” she said, before calling out by name Trump, who peddled unfounded “birther” allegations against Barack Obama.
“For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black,” she said.
In reference to Trump’s comments at the June debate—in which he claimed that immigrants coming into the U.S were “taking Black jobs”—Obama added: “Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those ‘Black jobs’?”
“It’s his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better,” she said.
‘My heart compels me to be here’
Obama mentioned that the last time she was in her hometown of Chicago was when her mother passed away earlier this year, and that she decided to speak at the DNC to honor her legacy and the sacrifices she made. She also drew a parallel between the principles that guided her upbringing and that of Harris: “She was glad to do the thankless, unglamorous work that, for generations, has strengthened the fabric of this nation,” Obama said, adding that “Kamala Harris and I built our lives on those same foundational values.”
“I wasn’t even sure if I’d be steady enough to stand before you tonight,” Obama said. “But my heart compelled me to be here because of the sense of duty that I feel to honor her memory and to remind us all not to squander the sacrifices our elders made to give us a better future.”