Obama makes DNC crowd go wild as he jokes about Trump’s ‘fixation on crowd sizes’ with crude hand gestures

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Former President Barack Obama had the Democratic National Convention audience in a trance with his usual charisma and wit—but it was one subtle dig at the former President Donald Trump that truly stole the show.

The joke wasn’t entirely about what he said, but rather the gestures he used that made it clear to everyone what he was insinuating.

Barack Obama’s humor and critique shine as he riffs on Donald Trump

Barack Obama's dry and pointed humor was in full swing during his remarks on Tuesday night, August 20. As mentioned, it was less about his words and more about his hand gestures, which hinted at a subtle attempt at sexual humor.

The New York Times described it as a “notably suggestive gesture,” where Obama moved his hands apart and then closer together.

"Here’s a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago," Obama said of Trump. "It has been a constant stream of gripes and grievances that’s actually been getting worse now that he’s afraid of losing to Kamala. There’s the childish nicknames, the crazy conspiracy theories, this weird obsession with crowd sizes.”

The crowd couldn't hold back their laughter and erupted into hysterics for several moments, while Obama smiled, clearly aware that his joke had landed perfectly.

“It just goes on and on and on!” Obama continued. “The other day, I heard someone compare Trump to the neighbor who keeps running his leaf blower outside your window every minute of every day. Now, from a neighbor that’s exhausting. From a president, it’s just dangerous.”

Obama didn't restrict his critique of Trump to jokes; he also delivered a sharp assessment of Trump's leadership.

As the Democratic delegates officially nominated Kamala Harris for the presidency, Obama seized the moment to reflect on the broader implications of this election for the future.

“And as we gather here tonight, the people who will decide this election are asking a very simple question,” he told the audience. “Who will fight for me? Who’s thinking about my future? About my children’s future? About our future together?”

Donald Trump’s obsession with crowd sizes

Donald Trump's obsession with crowd sizes is widely known and has been a recurring theme in his public appearances. In the weeks leading up to the convention, Trump repeatedly boasted about the size of his crowds.

Late-night comedian Stephen Colbert quipped on 'The Late Show' last week: “The fact that Kamala Harris is pulling such huge crowds is really getting under his—let’s call it—skin."

Obama's hand gestures during Tuesday's speech brought back memories of a 2016 debate when Trump, responding in typical Trumpian style, addressed Senator Marco Rubio's jab about the size of his hands.

“Look at those hands! Are they small hands?” Trump asked the crowd. “And... he referred to my hands. If they’re small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there’s no problem. I guarantee it," he added, sparking a wave of laughter from the audience.

Barack Obama's warm words for Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and Joe Biden

Shifting focus away from Donald Trump, Barack Obama used his speech to emphasize the future, declaring, "America is ready for a new chapter" and that "we are ready for President Kamala Harris." Drawing a contrast with Trump, Obama argued, “Kamala Harris won’t be focused on her problems – she’ll be focused on yours.”

“Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting on behalf of people who need a voice and a champion,” Obama said, touting Harris’ work as a prosecutor in California and how she “stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse.”

“As Attorney General of the most populous state in the country, she fought big banks and for-profit colleges, securing billions of dollars for the people they had scammed,” he added. “After the home mortgage crisis, she pushed me and my administration hard to make sure homeowners got a fair settlement.”

Obama also took time to recognize Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “I love this guy,” the former president said, before joking, “You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don’t come from some consultant, they come from his closet, and they’ve been through some stuff.”

Obama also offered heartfelt words for President Joe Biden, his vice president for two terms. “I can say without question that my first big decision as your nominee turned out to be one of my best – and that was asking Joe Biden to serve by my side as Vice President,” he said.

“Other than some common Irish blood, Joe and I come from different backgrounds. But we became brothers," Obama explained. "And as we worked together for eight years, what I came to admire most about Joe wasn’t just his smarts and experience, but his empathy and his decency; his hard-earned resiliency and his unshakable belief that everyone in this country deserves a fair shot.”