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‘Sit back and watch’: Trump credits Barack Obama for 2016 victory as he lashes out at former first lady’s DNC speech

Michelle Obama said president was ‘in over his head’ during a speech on first night of the DNC

Matt Mathers
Tuesday 18 August 2020 13:20 BST
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Michelle Obama: 'Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country'

Donald Trump credited Barack Obama for his 2016 presidential election victory as he lashed out at a DNC speech by former first lady Michelle Obama.

In his first response to the speech, Mr Trump told Ms Obama he would not be in the White House only “for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama.”

Claiming that his administration had built the greatest economy in history, Trump also told Ms Obama to “sit back and watch” for business to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Somebody please explain to Michelle Obama that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it weren’t for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama,” the president wrote in a message posted to Twitter.

“My Administration and I built the greatest economy in history, of any country, turned it off, saved millions of lives, and now am building an even greater economy than it was before.

“Jobs are flowing, NASDAQ is already at a record high, the rest to follow. Sit back & watch!” Trump added, appearing to suggest he will win a second term should the US economy bounce back.

The former first lady launched a scathing attack on Trump in her pre-recorded speech for the DNC, which kicked off online on Monday night. Ms Obama, along with her husband, had until recently avoided criticising Trump in public.

But Ms Obama got personal on Monday night, accusing Trump of “faking” his way through the presidency. In an emotional address, the former first lady said Mr Trump was the “wrong president for our country”.

“He is in over his head. He cannot meet the moment ... It is what it is,” she added. “He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head.”

The virtual DNC on Tuesday will include speeches from former president Bill Clinton and New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

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