Barack Obama's 'diaper' joke at Donald Trump leaves crowd in split. Watch video

Former US President Barack Obama brought his star power to the 2024 election campaign trail for the first time as he hit the stump in the must-win state of Pennsylvania. Obama lashed out at "crazy" Donald Trump Thursday and urged voters to back Kamala Harris in the US presidential polls.

The former POTUS reflected on the responsibilities of parenthood and shared a personal story about his own experience with the high cost of diapers when his first daughter, Malia, was born in 1998. “I remember buying diapers after Malia was born and thinking, ‘That’s how much they cost?’” Obama said to the crowd.

“Do you think Donald Trump ever changed a diaper?”," Barack Obama quipped, taking a swipe at Donald Trump.



The crowd burst into laughter and someone in the audience quickly responded with a quip: "His own!". Obama laughed and pointed to the audience member, clearly amused by the joke. “I almost said that,” Obama chuckled, “But I decided I shouldn’t say it.”

In a 2005 radio interview, Trump was asked if he had ever changed his children’s diapers. His answer? “No, I don’t do that,” adding that it’s “not my thing.”

In another interview from the same year, Donald Trump discussed his approach to parenting. Trump mentioned that he adopts a hands-off role in taking care of his children. He explained, “I mean, I won’t do anything to take care of them. I’ll supply funds and she’ll take care of the kids,” referring to his wife, Melania Trump. Trump added, “It’s not like I’m gonna be walking the kids down Central Park.”

Barack Obama backs Kamala Harris

The Obamas have backed Kamala Harris for the White House race. During the campaign, Obama also chided Black male voters for what he called hesitancy in supporting Democrat Harris because they "just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president."

"I'm sorry gentlemen, I've noticed this, especially with some men who seem to think Trump's behavior, the bullying and the putting people down, is a sign of strength," he said.

"And I am here to tell you that is not what real strength is."

The popular Democrat called Trump's schemes to sell bibles as "crazy" and used the same word to describe the 78-year-old former president's embrace of conspiracy theories.

America's first Black president admitted that "this election's going to be tight" as many voters were still struggling with high prices.

Trump sharpens attack on Kamala

Donald Trump, who was in the hotly contested state of Michigan on Thursday, also ramped up his personal attacks on Harris, branding her "dumber than hell," and assailed the auto industry capital Detroit itself as run down as he was speaking to the city's economic club.

"Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she's your president," he said.

Democrats are hoping Obama could give Harris a boost in a race that has been locked with Trump for weeks, after her initial boost in the polls after she took over from President Joe Biden as the party's nominee in July.

Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama delivered rapturously received speeches backing Harris at the Democratic National Convention in August.

(With AFP inputs)