The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago was not only politically charged but also filled with a vibrant mix of powerful and inspiring speeches, along with moments of genuine humor.
From jokes about Donald Trump’s obsession with crowd sizes to Michelle Obama’s sharp critique of Trump’s racial rhetoric, these moments provided a lighter yet pointed counterbalance to the event’s more serious discussions.
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As the DNC wrapped its fourth and final night in Chicago, where Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the party’s nomination for president, let’s look back at some of the most humorous moments.
Michelle Obama on Trump’s ‘Black Jobs’
“I want to know who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama took aim at Trump, referencing a comment he had made about migrants taking “Black jobs” as part of his pitch to Black voters. Her speech on Tuesday marked a notable departure from her now-famous line, “When they go low, we go high.”
Barack Obama and that ‘Crowd Size’ Joke
“There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories. This weird obsession with crowd sizes.”
Former President Barack Obama’s speech on the second night of the DNC was a mix of inspiration and humor. In his signature charismatic style, he delivered some memorable lines, including a jab at former President Donald Trump’s well-known obsession with crowd sizes. At one point, Obama moved his hands closer together and then farther apart, evoking a reminder of Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s infamous 2016 dig at Trump’s “small hands” when both Rubio and Trump were competing for the Republican nomination.
Hillary Clinton’s Reaction to Chants of “Lock Him Up”
“Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made his own kind of history, the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions!”
The first night of the DNC was marked by an emotional return of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the stage, where she mocked former President Donald Trump’s legal challenges during her speech.
As she spoke, the crowd began chanting “Lock him up,” a pointed reversal of the chants that Trump’s supporters had famously directed at her during the 2016 presidential campaign when she was running against Trump.
Clinton tried to talk over the crowd, but then smiled and nodded as it grew louder.
Doug Emhoff’s ‘Rambling’ Voicemail to Kamala
“I got Kamala’s voicemail and I just started rambling. ‘Hey, it’s Doug. I’m on my way to an early meeting. Again, it’s Doug.'”
Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris’s husband, brought a lighter, more personal touch to his speech on night two. His story about leaving Harris a rambling voicemail after their first phone conversation, which she plays back to him every year on their anniversary, was met with warm laughter from the crowd.
Kenan Thompson Mocking Project 2025
“You ever seen a document that could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time?”
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Comedian Kenan Thompson took the mic during Night 3 of the DNC in what looked like a Saturday Night Live stunt to both joke about and seriously educate voters on Project 2025. The actor asked from the stage while holding a massive bound version of the plan composed by a group of Republicans that is said to be a blueprint for Donald Trump’s possible second term.
Tim Walz’s Pep Talk
“I have not given a lot of big speeches like this, but I have given a lot of pep talks. So let me finish with this, team: It is the fourth quarter, we are down a field goal, but we are on offense and we’ve got the ball.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz positioned himself as an advocate for personal freedoms in his speech, summing it up with, “Mind your own damn business.” Leaning into his coaching days, Walz argued that Democrats have “something better to offer the American people.”
Bill Clinton Takes Shot at Donald Trump’s Age
“Two days ago, I turned 78. The oldest man in my family who is still living. And the only personal vanity I want to assert is that I’m still younger than Donald Trump.”
Paul Sancya/AP Photo
Former President Bill Clinton made a pointed joke at the Democratic National Convention, taking a lighthearted jab at former President Donald Trump’s age. This quip came after months of scrutiny over President Joe Biden’s age, which had been a persistent topic of concern and debate throughout his tenure and ultimately contributed to his decision to step down from the race.
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