Donald Trump Criticizes Michelle Obama Following Joe Biden's Debate Performance
Former President Donald Trump criticized former First Lady Michelle Obama during a campaign event in Virginia on Friday.
Addressing supporters a day after his first debate with President Joe Biden for the 2024 election, Trump discussed concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden's performance and its potential impact on the November election. "Many people are saying that after last night's performance, Joe Biden is leaving the race," Trump told supporters. "But the fact is, I don't really believe that because he does better in polls than any of the Democrats are talking about."
Trump mentioned polling conducted to gauge how various Democrats, including the former first lady, would fare against him in a hypothetical matchup. "They polled everybody," Trump said. "They polled Michelle Obama; she polls very badly. No, she polls terribly." He added, "It's hard to believe, but Crooked Joe Biden polls better than those people."
Thursday night's debate reportedly caused "panic" among some Democrats, as Biden appeared to struggle with a raspy voice and delayed responses. An aide for the 81-year-old president told Newsweek that he was battling a cold during the event. Biden's performance reignited concerns about his age and mental health, prompting some progressive members of his party to call for a different nominee before November. Political analysts told Newsweek that while Biden may have won the debate "on points," his demeanor likely hurt his reelection chances.
Several names, including the former first lady, have been suggested as potential replacements for Biden, although Obama's office has stated that she has no intention of running for office. Polling indicates that in a hypothetical matchup with Trump, Obama trails the former president by about seven percentage points. "As former first lady, Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president," Obama's office said in a statement to NBC News in March. "Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' reelection campaign." A spokesperson for Obama confirmed to Newsweek that her March statement remains accurate.
Trump also criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris during his rally on Friday, both of whom have been mentioned as potential replacements for Biden. The former president claimed that Newsom "can't run California" and is "one of the worst governors." Newsom, a strong Biden supporter, told MSNBC late Thursday evening that discussing a new Democratic nominee was "unhelpful" and "unnecessary."
Polling conducted by Rasmussen Reports in March indicated that Trump would lead Newsom by 17 points if the governor were the Democratic nominee in November. Calls for Newsom to replace Biden have grown since early spring. Trump also joked that he would be "very happy" if Democrats chose Harris as their nominee, noting that polling, while limited, shows she has a low chance of beating him in a hypothetical matchup.
Biden also addressed supporters at a rally in North Carolina on Friday, responding to concerns over his debate performance.
"I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," Biden said on stage in Raleigh, according to Reuters. "I don't walk as easily as I used to, I don't speak as smoothly as I used to, I don't debate as well as I used to," he added. "I would not be running again if I didn't believe with all my heart and soul that I could do this job. The stakes are too high."
Former President Barack Obama also showed support for his former running mate on Friday, writing on social media, "Bad debate nights happen."
"But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself...Last night didn't change that, and it's why so much is at stake in November," the former president wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with a link to Biden's campaign website.
Trump, who recently turned 78, has also faced questions about his age and mental capacity to serve another four years. His performance on Thursday was typical for the former president, filled with attacks on his political opponents rather than directly answering the moderators' questions.
Trump also repeated several falsehoods he has used throughout his campaign, including claims that Democrats support late-term abortions even after birth and that Biden is "paid by China." House Republicans have long investigated claims that the president accepted bribes from foreign nationals during his time as vice president, but no evidence has substantiated these accusations.
**What's Next?**
The Democratic National Committee will gather in Chicago on August 19 to select its official nominee for November. The GOP's convention is scheduled to take place in Milwaukee on July 15, four days after Trump will face sentencing for his hush money conviction in Manhattan.
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