Barack Obama takes a swipe at 'homegrown demagogue' Donald Trump at Democratic convention

Hatty Collier28 July 2016

Barack Obama warned Donald Trump is a threat to America’s values during a Democratic Convention speech in which he said: “homegrown demagogues will always fail”.

The US president took a swipe at the Republican nominee as he implored Americans to elect Hillary Clinton to the White House at the convention in Philadelphia.

"America is already great. America is already strong," he told cheering delegates at the convention. "And I promise you, our strength, our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump."

When the crowd started to boo over the first mention of the Republican nominee, Obama dusted off a line from his days on the campaign trail, telling the crowd, “Don’t boo, vote.”

Mr Obama speaks during the third day of the Democratic National Convention
AP Photo/John Locher

He went on to say: “Anyone who threatens our values, whether fascists or communists or jihadists or homegrown demagogues, will always fail in the end.

It was likely a reference to the billionaire businessman, who the president described as “not really a facts guy”.

Hillary Clinton and Mr Obama share a hug as she steps on stage

For Democrats, the night was steeped in symbolism, the passing of the baton from a barrier-breaking president to a candidate trying to make history herself.

His speech culminated with Mrs Clinton making a surprise appearance on stage to greet Mr Obama with a long embrace, an almost unimaginable image eight years ago when they battled for the Democratic nomination.

"Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me," he said.

"I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me."

Mr Obama vouched robustly for Mrs Clinton's readiness to finish the job he started, saying "no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits".

Mr Obama's vigorous support for Mrs Clinton is driven in part by deep concern that Mr Trump might win in November and unravel his two terms in office.

He warned repeatedly early on Thursday that the former The Apprentice TV host was unprepared for the challenges that would await him in the Oval Office.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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