On Tuesday, Donald Trump criticized Barack Obama for campaigning for Kamala Harris, calling him a “jerk.” Obama, 63, surprised many by rapping Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” at a Detroit rally in support of Harris Tuesday night.
“I think he’s a real jerk because I watched him campaign over the last couple of days,” Trump told his supporters at a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina. “Over the last couple of days, I watched him campaign, what a divider he is. He divided this country, he couldn’t care less, him and his little group of people. He was terrible.”
Trump claimed that Obama began campaigning for Harris because she “is incapable of campaigning.”
During Harris’ rally, Detroit native Eminem, 52, introduced Obama after publicly supporting the Democratic presidential nominee, according to the New York Post.
“As most of you know, the city of Detroit and the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me,” Eminem told the crowd, “and going into this election, the spotlight is on us more than ever.”
Reminding everyone that “it’s important to use your voice,” the “Without Me” rapper encouraged those in the audience and at home to go out and vote on November 5.
“I also think, people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions,” he explained, adding that no one should live in a world fearing retribution for their beliefs.
“I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld,” Eminem shared, before bringing out his hype man Obama.
While 15-time Grammy winner Eminem kept his rally appearance all business, Obama brought his usual charisma. Obama took the stage, praised Eminem, and delivered an impromptu performance with a big smile.
“I don’t usually get nervous,” he told the audience, “but I was feeling some kind of way following Eminem.”
At that moment, Obama went off script, skillfully integrating the 2002 lyrics of “Lose Yourself” into his speech.
“My palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. Vomit on his sweater already, mom’s spaghetti,” Obama rapped as the crowd erupted in applause and cheers.
Obama continued rapping parts of the first verse of “Lose Yourself,” and while the audience enjoyed it, his performance received mixed reviews on social media.
“Obama, trying to rap is probably the most cringe thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Nothing was funny about it. Nothing was charming. Nothing was charisma. There is NOTHING there . It was bland. Nothing was there,” one person reacted.
“Obama rapping but it’s over the Eminem beat,” wrote another.
“Tens of millions of Americans are wondering how they gonna pay the rent, car payment, school loans and groceries, but all these clowns be rapping like that’s gonna fix they problems,” a third wrote.
“So cool! They should have included the soundtrack at least the first few seconds…”, another reacted.
While Obama’s rendition of “Lose Yourself” was surprising, Eminem’s endorsement wasn’t, given his frequent criticism of Trump in interviews and songs.
“When I start talking about Trump, I get too flustered in my head,” the rapper said in a clip that circulated earlier this year. “And the s–t that I want to say—there’s too many things I want to say at once. So sometimes I start talking and I don’t… I’m not able to convey the message the right way because I just get flustered and frustrated.”
He went on to claim Trump supporters are “brainwashed,” stating, “If you’re talking about his core being, you know, a majority white middle class, what I don’t understand is how in the f–k do you feel like you relate to a billionaire who has never known struggle his entire f–king life?”
