Obama issues scathing rebuke of Trump's presidency

Former US President Barack Obama took the virtual stage at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night and implored voters to back his former vice president for the nation’s top job, arguing that “our democracy” is on the line.

In an address from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Obama said President Donald Trump has “shown no interest in putting in the work” or “treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.”

In remarks remarkable for their dismissiveness of a U.S. president by his predecessor, Obama declares, "Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't."

He hopes to serve as a bridge between those reassured by Biden's lengthy resume and more moderate record, and a younger generation of Democrats agitating for more dramatic change.

American democracy might not survive another four years of Trump, he warns in excerpts released in advance.

He urges voters to "embrace your own responsibility as citizens – to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure. Because that's what is at stake right now. Our democracy."

In remarks remarkable for their dismissiveness of a U.S. president by his predecessor, Obama declares, "Donald Trump hasn't grown into the job because he can't."

He hopes to serve as a bridge between those reassured by Biden's lengthy resume and more moderate record, and a younger generation of Democrats agitating for more dramatic change.

Obama confidants say that the former president's support for Biden is unequivocal, but he does worry about enthusiasm among younger voters, particularly younger voters of color.

Democrats concede that one of the reasons Trump won the presidency in 2016 was because those voters didn't show up in the same large numbers as when Obama was on the ballot.