Trump has, of course, been one of the most famous and persistent proponents of the lie that President Obama was secretly born outside the United States.

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Hours before Michelle Obama's remarks, Trump staged a bizarre press conference-cum-campaign rally-cum-hotel informercial in which he stated, after years of forcefully denying reality, that he was finally satisfied that the lie he'd pushed for half a decade was wrong.

Later in Michelle Obama's address, she framed Trump as nothing more than a flashy showman incapable of shouldering the obligations of the Oval Office. "A president can't just pop off," she said, adding later:

"We cannot afford to squander this opportunity, particularly given the alternative. Because here’s what we know: that being president isn’t anything like reality TV. It’s not about sending insulting tweets or making fiery speeches. It’s about whether or not the candidate can handle the awesome responsibility of leading this country."

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