In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama released a lengthy statement in which they tried to sound fair and conciliatory to now-President-Elect Donald Trump. Despite those attempts to sound fair, they were obviously seething.
Beginning, the Obamas noted that millions upon millions of Americans voted and that they largely chose Trump, saying, “Over the last few weeks and through Election Day, millions of Americans cast their votes – not just for president, but for leaders at every level. Now the results are in, and we want to congratulate President Trump and Senator Vance on their victory.”
Next, they admitted that they had wanted things to go differently, but noted that “democracy” means there needs to be a “peaceful transfer of power,” saying, “This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues. But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won’t always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power.”
Then, absurdly, they claimed that Harris and Walz ran not just a good campaign, but a “remarkable” one. They said, “Michelle and I could not be prouder of Vice President Harris and Governor Walz – two extraordinary public servants who ran a remarkable campaign. And we will always be grateful to the staff and volunteers who poured their heart and soul into electing public servants they truly believed in.”
Then, in a seeming moment of truth, they admitted that the American economy is, for most, not all it’s cracked up to be right now. They said, “As I said on the campaign trail, America has been through a lot over the last few years – from a historic pandemic and price hikes resulting from the pandemic, to rapid change and the feeling a lot of folks have that, no matter how hard they work, treading water is the best they can do. Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune.
Returning to the matter of democracy in America, the Obamas said that “democratic norms” made America great, writing, “The good news is that these problems are solvable – but only if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that made this country great.”
Then, ending with a paean to diversity, they wrote, “In a country as big and diverse as ours, we won’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace – even to people with whom we deeply disagree. That’s how we’ve come this far, and it’s how we’ll keep building a country that is more fair and more just, more equal and more free.”
Commenters on Obama’s post roasted him. One commenter, for example, wrote, “You initiated the Russia-Collusion narrative against President Trump. You also weaponized the entire DOJ. Everything you did was done with an eye to creating domestic division & strife. We’re not going to simply forget that.”
Another fired back at Obama with the allegation that he knowingly pushed, repeatedly, a conspiracy about Trump, saying, “Thanks for showing Americans what a dishonest race-baiter you are by repeating the thoroughly debunked “fine people” hoax. You did your part in delivering the presidency to Donald Trump.”
Watch Trump roast Michelle Obama here:
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