Ex-Obama official says Trump’s RNC speech is ‘first good thing to happen to Democrats in weeks’

An ex-senior adviser to former President Barack Obama praised Donald Trump’s lengthy, rambling speech at the Republican National Convention as being “good” for Democrats.

“This is the first good thing that‘s happened to Democrats in the last three weeks,” David Axelrod said on CNN. “This really reminded everyone why Donald Trump is fundamentally unpopular outside this room.”

Trump, boasting an ear bandage, took the stage on Thursday night to accept the GOP nomination for president — just days after he survived an assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Shortly after he was shot, the GOP nominee stood up and pumped his fist in the air, creating an image that members of his party have posted to underscore how he is a “fighter.”

The widely circulated image came weeks after his 2024 rival President Joe Biden flubbed his debate performance, sparking concerns about his age and ability to defeat Trump in November. Agrowing number of Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Rep Nancy Pelosi, have since called for him to step aside.

Axelrod was not alone in his criticism of Trump — or fresh hope for Democrats. A host of political commentators took to social media, agreeing the former president’s unconventional speech should bring a wave of optimism for Democrats.

Although Trump’s off-script speech began by detailing his near-death experience, thanking God for preventing a worse shooting outcome, later on, critics said, the wheels came off.

The rest of his address included his usual laundry list of lies and Trumpisms: the “China virus,” “crazy” Nancy Pelosi, the “late, great” Hannibal Lecter, as well as false claims that Democrats were “cheating on elections” and about migrants entering at the US