The first Black President of the U.S. took the stage to support the first woman presidential nominee of a major political party at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night. Delegates chanted, “Yes We Can,” Barack Obama’s campaign slogan from 2008, as Obama spoke to the crowd in support of Hillary Clinton.
Obama, who walked out as “The City of Blinding Lights” by U2 rocked the arena in Philadelphia, offered a ringing endorsement of Clinton, his onetime primary competitor who became his Secretary of State, saying she would “blast through the glass ceiling.”
“Even in the midst of crisis, she listens to people. And she keeps her cool,” Obama said. “And no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits. That is the Hillary I know.”
Obama also got in some digs at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, whose name was met with boos in the arena.
“Don’t boo—vote!” Obama urged the crowd.
Referencing Trump’s plan to build a wall at the Mexican border, Obama was cheered when he said Clinton “knows the American dream is something no wall will ever contain.”
Obama also made an overture to supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders.
“We all need to be as persistent as Bernie Sanders supporters have been during this election. We need to vote for Democrats up and down the ticket, and then hold them accountable until they get the job done. That’s right, feel the Bern!”
Obama looked back to the past as well, striking an optimistic note as he recalled the 2004 DNC speech that catapulted him to fame and ultimately to the presidency.
“Twelve years ago tonight, I addressed this convention for the very first time,” Obama said. “And while this nation has been tested by war and its been tested by recession, I stand before you again tonight, after almost two terms as your President, to tell you I am more optimistic about the future of America than ever before.”
This story originally appeared on Time.com.
And here’s our reaction to POTUS’ speech.
This the best #POTUS vine of them all in case y'all forgot. https://t.co/IiP1Mt2TDu
— Kofie Y. (@KofieYeboah) July 28, 2016
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