OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former first lady Michelle Obama sent a gaslighting message to black Americans that voting in the November elections is “critical” to protecting their “freedom.”
“Juneteenth is all about celebrating our collective freedom and fighting to protect it,” Obama said in a video posted on X.
“Our power, our rights, and even our planet are on the ballot this year,” Obama said. “So, now is the time to think about how you’re going to make your voice heard in this election.”
The desperate message comes as recent polling shows that former President Donald Trump may be on the verge of capturing a historic number of votes from black Americans.
The former first lady established the voter registration and engagement organization “When We All Vote” in 2018, and pushed her 22 million followers on X to visit the group’s website.
“Get yourself registered to vote, and then text three friends to do the same,” she said. “Do not sit on the sidelines this year, because this is a critical moment for all of us.”
WATCH:
On Juneteenth, we celebrate our freedom, our resilience, and our progress. Today we’re honoring all the Black folks who came before us – who helped build our country with their bare hands – who marched and fought to do everything they could to build a better future for us all.… pic.twitter.com/NmdjgcUK3t
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 19, 2024
During a January interview on Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast, Obama put out another over-the-top call to action, claiming she was “terrified about what could possibly happen” in the election that will likely feature a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden.
“Because our leaders matter,” she then said. “Who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit — it affects us in ways that sometimes I think people take for granted.”
In March, Obama’s office confirmed again that she “will not be running for president,” as many had speculated she would amid disturbingly low poll numbers for Biden.
“As former first lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president,” Crystal Carson, director of communications for Obama’s office, told NBC News at the time.
“Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign,” she added.
But that hasn’t stopped some from speculating that the former first lady will eventually enter the race. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, predicted in September that “the Democrat kingmakers [will] jettison Joe Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama” at the Democratic convention in August.
Trump has been polling better with blacks and Hispanics for at least a year. According to a new survey from Rasmussen Reports in April, the prospective GOP nominee took a double-digit lead over Biden among likely Hispanic voters, as Black and Asian Americans also appear to be shifting more towards the Republican Party.
Overall, Trump is leading Biden 49-41 percent, which is the same as the pollster’s survey of likely voters last month, the Washington Examiner reported.
The outlet added:
But this time, Rasmussen highlighted the gap in Hispanic voters that favors Trump. The pollster said Latinos back Trump over Biden, 48%-37%. That is a significant change from 2020, when Hispanics backed Biden 59%-38%, according to Pew statistics.
In 2020, Biden also won Asian voters, and that margin has shifted. In 2020 he won Asians by a margin of 72%-28%, Pew said. Rasmussen now shows Trump leading 39%-36%.
In the last election, Biden also did well with black voters, 92%-8%. Rasmussen showed Biden’s lead cut to 48%-39%.
Democrats are concerned about the huge shift from 2020 as they need a big minority advantage to win, although those gaps are expected to turn in Biden’s favor as the election nears, the Examiner added.
In addition, Trump is polling better among self-described Independents.
“Trump benefits from both stronger partisan intensity and a double-digit advantage among independent voters,” the Rasmussen analysis noted. “In a head-to-head matchup with Biden, Trump gets 83% of Republican votes, compared to Biden’s 74% among Democrats.
“Among voters not affiliated with either major party, Trump leads with 46% to Biden’s 35%. These gaps are not significantly affected by the inclusion of RFK Jr., [Jill] Stein or [Cornell] West on the ballot,” the report continued.