Former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a sober speech that framed the November election as an urgent choice between recovery and continued crisis during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday.
She called on Americans to choose empathy over hatred and division and strongly condemned President Donald Trump's character and politics.
Obama argued that Trump is modeling "that greed is good and winning is everything," but held that most Americans "know that what's going on in this country is just not right."
"Sadly, this is the America that is on display for the next generation - a nation that's underperforming not simply on matters of policy, but on matters of character," she said. "And that's not just disappointing, it's downright infuriating."
While the former first lady has been reluctant to wade into politics, she called out Trump by name on Monday night.
"Let me be as honest and clear as I can: Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country," she said. "He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us."
She added, "It is what it is" - a reference to Trump's recent remark about the US's Covid-19 death toll.
She contrasted Biden's leadership qualities and character with Trump's.
"I know Joe. He is a profoundly decent man guided by faith," Obama said during her pre-recorded speech. "He listens. He will tell the truth and trust science. He will make smart plans and manage a good team. And he will govern as someone who's lived a life the rest of us can recognize."
Obama mentioned Biden's experience with personal tragedy, including the deaths of his first wife and baby daughter and his son Beau's death in 2015, arguing that he understands Americans' pain and suffering.
She went on, "His life is a testament to getting back up - and he is going to channel that same grit and passion to pick us all up, to help us heal, and guide us forward."
Obama also called on Americans to vote and condemned voter suppression efforts, including the president's efforts to discourage mail-in voting.
"We've got to vote early, in person if we can. We've got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow-up to make sure they're received," she said. "And then, make sure our friends and families do the same."
-PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) August 18, 2020
The former first lady has for years been considered the most popular and galvanizing Democratic figure, along with her husband Barack Obama, and was the "most admired" woman in the world in 2018 and 2019, according to Gallup polling.
But Obama has repeatedly insisted that she has no future in politics and has spent the last four years writing her best-selling memoir "Becoming," building the Obama Foundation, promoting key issues like voter participation, and launching a new podcast.
Obama's influence and popularity goes far beyond the political sphere, which makes her one of the most influential speaker at this week's convention, aside from her husband and Biden.
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