Barack Obama received rapturous applause and laughter after making a memorable joke about Donald Trump that many believe should be recorded in history. On Tuesday, 20 August, the former president took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. He discussed the nation’s future and endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
“America is ready for a new chapter,” he told the audience. “America’s ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris.” During his speech, Obama addressed Harris’ opponent, Trump, referring to him as a ’78-year-old billionaire who hasn’t stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago’.
Obama harshly criticised Trump’s campaign style, stating, “It’s been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually gotten worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala.” While Obama’s comments targeted Trump’s behaviour, one particular gesture caught viewers’ attention as a subtle jab at Trump’s anatomy. He mentioned, “The childish nicknames and crazy conspiracy theories and weird obsession with crowd size,” glancing meaningfully at his hands held a few inches apart during the words ‘crowd size’.
Obama: Here is a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago. There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes pic.twitter.com/WGwNOFinHK
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 21, 2024
Listeners who only heard the speech might have missed the significance of this gesture, but those watching couldn’t ignore its implication. Twitter buzzed with reactions to the moment, with one user saying it should be immortalised. “Uh, uh… I’m aware I’m a degenerate and may misread things as such, but err… did Obama just use his hands to gesture that Trump has a tiny d**k while mocking him for being obsessed with crowd size?” one person asked, adding: “Cause uh, I’m writing that into the historical record regardless.”
Another posted a clip of Obama’s speech, praising his ‘perfect comedic delivery’. A third commented, “Obama hit the former guy with a d**k joke at the DNC and it was worth the price of admission.” Although the ‘crowd size’ comment stole the show for many, Obama continued with his critique.
He added, “It just goes on and on. The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbour who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day.” Obama’s speech, met with huge cheers and applause, underscored his support for Harris by describing her as ‘not the neighbour running the leaf blower’. “She’s the neighbour rushing over to help when you need a hand,” he said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What joke did Barack Obama make about Donald Trump?
Obama joked about Trump’s ‘crowd size’ with a hand gesture implying a double meaning.
What was Obama’s main message at the Democratic National Convention?
Obama emphasized America’s readiness for a new chapter and endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
How did Obama describe Trump’s campaign approach?
Obama critiqued it as a constant stream of gripes and grievances, worsened by fear of losing to Harris.
How did social media react to Obama’s joke about Trump?
Twitter users praised the joke, with some calling it ‘perfect comedic delivery’ and suggesting it be part of the historical record.
What comparison did Obama make about Trump towards the end of his speech?
Obama compared Trump to a neighbor who constantly uses a leaf blower, contrasting him with Harris’s helpful nature.