Obama Tells Black Men Trump Doesn’t Represent ‘Real Strength’

Former President Barack Obama spoke directly to American men at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, calling former President Donald Trump self-centered and dishonest. 

Obama commented that Trump’s bullying behavior doesn’t show real strength, which received loud applause from the audience. 

“Real strength is about working hard. And carrying a heavy load without complaining. Real strength is about taking responsibility for your actions and telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient,” stated Obama. He said that strength is about helping people and standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.

Obama also addressed Trump’s false claims about the government’s response to hurricane victims.

“Even if you had a family member who acted like that, you might still love them, but you’d tell them you got a problem,” he said. “And you wouldn’t put them in charge of anything. And yet when Donald Trump lies or cheats or shows utter disregard for our Constitution, when he calls POWs losers or fellow citizens vermin, people make excuses for it, they think it’s OK.”

Harris has strong support from women, but surveys show that she struggles with male voters. Many young Latino and black men have expressed openness to supporting Trump or not voting at all. 

Obama is focusing on reaching African American men in the final weeks before the election. He explained that he is seeing different support from the communities that supported him when he was running. 

“Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons,” he said.