2024 Presidential Election Update: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris Hold Rallies as 42 Million Americans Vote Early

Former President Barack Obama appeared on a Zoom call with the group Win With Black Men on Sunday.

The group, which raised $1.3 million in four hours for a grassroots platform for Harris’ campaign, warned about the dangers of black male apathy and the importance of staying engaged in politics.

“Donald Trump has demonstrated complete disrespect and disregard for our communities and Black men in particular throughout his career,” Obama said.

Drawing from former First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech during the Harris campaign Saturday, Obama expressed disbelief that the race was neck and neck.

“As my wife said yesterday, I’m sure some of you caught her speech in Kalamazoo. It shouldn’t be so close because the candidates are not comparable. “On the one hand, there’s Donald Trump, someone who, like the president of the United States, has shown contempt for a huge swath of the country that hasn’t shown the ability to pass legislation that would actually help ordinary people,” Obama said.

“And on the other hand, there is Kamala Harris, who has proven to be a champion for everyday people every step of the way, trying to provide a voice for those who need it,” Obama continued.

“Who has demonstrated consistent excellence at every level, from serving as district attorney, to attorney general of California, to serving as a U.S. senator, and now to serving as vice president, she is as qualified as any presidential candidate we have ever seen, and her message is focused directly on the challenges that we face as black men, that our communities face and that America faces,” Obama said of Harris.

Obama also refuted the idea that it’s worth voting for Trump because of the stimulus checks sent out during the pandemic.

“Well, during the pandemic, Trump sent us a check. You know what? First of all, Congress and Democrats and Republicans sent you a check, just as Joe Biden, working with Congress, sent you a check during the pandemic emergency aid, just as I sent emergency aid to people during the Great Recession when I first took office – the difference is this that Joe Biden and I did not put our names on the check,” Obama said.

“So don’t think that because during the pandemic you received a check from Donald Trump, quote, unquote, that somehow he did this special thing and that justifies voting for him,” Obama said.

– ABC News’ Gabriella Abdul-Hakim