President Barack Obama made a much-anticipated appearance at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, speaking for nearly 45 minutes in favor of his choice for the next president: his rival-turned-friend, Hillary Clinton.
After being introduced with a video praising his tenure as Commander in Chief, President Obama entered the DNC stage to U2’s “City of Blinding Lights.”
He then began his speech by listing several of the highlights of his presidency, many of which were accomplished with Clinton’s help, like the elimination of Osama bin Laden and the implementation of marriage equality. His support of Clinton shined through in his address, as he bragged about her qualifications and experience.
“You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office,” Obama said. “Until you’ve sat at that desk, you don’t know what it’s like to manage a global crisis or send young people to war…But Hillary’s been in the room. She’s been part of those decisions.”
“I can say with confidence,” he continued, “there has never been a man or a woman—not me, not Bill—more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America.”
He then went on to bash Clinton’s Republican rival, Donald Trump, claiming that Trump has filled his life and his campaign with lies, lawsuits, and pessimism.
“He suggests America is weak,” Obama said. “[But] every country on Earth sees America as stronger and more respected today than they did eight years ago.”
“America is already great. America is already strong. And I promise you, our strength—our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump.”
You can watch the full speech here.