Michelle Obama was an outspoken supporter of Kamala Harris on Tuesday as the Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago. The former First Lady also criticized Donald Trump for making racist attacks and highlighted the many challenges facing non-wealthy Americans. She also refuted Trump's claims about “black jobs” being taken by immigrants by noting that the American presidency may now have become a “black job” too.
“Who's going to tell him that the job he's applying for now might be one of those 'black jobs'?” Obama asked to loud cheers.
Kamala Harris will formally accept the party's nomination for president at the convention. If elected, she will be the first Black and South Asian person to become president of the United States.
The comment is a direct reference to the Republican leader’s repeated claims about undocumented immigrants taking “black jobs.” According to the former POTUS, the oft-used term refers to “anyone who has a job.”
“I will tell you that millions and millions of people come from the border who happen to take black jobs,” he had insisted while addressing a conference of black journalists earlier this month.
Obama has also publicly criticized Trump on several occasions for allegedly committing “ugly, misogynistic, racist lies” that were also directed at former President Barack Obama in the past.
“His limited and narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, educated, successful people who also happened to be black,” she said.
She also called Kamala Harris “one of the most qualified people” to run for president and insisted that “no one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American.” The comment follows Trump's recent references to the US vice president as “a child of immigrants.”
(With input from agencies)
