Obama: "Trump Violated Almost All Ten Commandments... Why Vote for a Person Without Honor?"

[US Election 2024]

Former U.S. President Barack Obama criticized former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, on the 28th (local time), saying he "breaks almost every commandment of the Ten Commandments" and is a person who neither honors nor fulfills his duties. Regarding public opinion that the economic situation during Trump's presidency was better than it is now, Obama claimed, "He did nothing" and "It was good because it was my economy."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

On the evening of the same day, Obama made these remarks while campaigning in support of Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, the largest city in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania. He defined the upcoming November 5 election as a "national vote" on "who we are and what we represent."

In particular, Obama referred to the various racist and derogatory remarks made at Trump's rally held the previous day at Madison Square Garden in New York, saying, "We need to learn a lesson" and emphasized, "If someone does not respect you, if someone does not see you as a fellow citizen with an equal opportunity to pursue happiness in the American Dream, you should not vote for them." The rally has been embroiled in controversy for disparaging the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico as a "trash island." Local media reported that about 500,000 Puerto Ricans reside in Pennsylvania, where Obama campaigned.

Obama raised his voice, saying, "We must reject the politics of division and hatred we have seen" and "turn the page." He also said, "You may not agree with every decision she makes," but emphasized, "If you vote for Harris, she will see you, listen to you, and support you every day." This statement is interpreted as an attempt to persuade undecided voters until the final moments of voting.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

At the rally, Obama once again rebutted claims that the economy was better during Trump's presidency, saying, "That is because it was my economy!" He stated that during his eight years in office, he spent time "cleaning up the mess left by the Republicans?the Great Recession caused by the financial crisis, the collapse of the auto industry" and "after eight years, I handed over to Trump an economy with 75 consecutive months of job growth." He added, "What he did was give tax cuts to those who did not need them (the wealthy)" and "He did nothing."

Furthermore, Obama criticized Trump for calling soldiers losers, lying and cheating, completely ignoring the Constitution, and referring to colleagues as pests, saying that some people still make excuses for him and that "he seems to violate almost every commandment of the Ten Commandments."

Obama questioned why soldiers or conservatives would vote for someone who "does not believe in duty or honor." He also asked why Muslim Americans, who oppose the Democratic Party's current Middle East policy, "trust someone who passed the Muslim ban." He explained the reason some male voters support Trump is because they like "fake machoism," emphasizing, "True strength is helping those in need and speaking up for those who cannot represent themselves. This is what we want for our sons and daughters, and what I want to see in the next U.S. president."

He continued, "Whether this election excites you, scares you, gives you hope, frustrates you, or leaves you somewhere in between, do not sit still," urging, "Get up from the sofa, put down your phone, and vote for Harris and (vice presidential candidate) Tim Walz."