Democratic convention: Michelle Obama blasts Trump

Michelle Obama has launched a stinging attack on US President Donald Trump as Democrats prepared to crown Joe Biden as their White House challenger....

"You simply cannot fake your way through this job," she said in remarks that closed the first night of the convention on Monday. The headline speaker added: "Our economy is in shambles because of a virus that this president downplayed for too long."

"Stating the simple fact that a black life matters is still met with derision from the nation's highest office," Mrs Obama continued. "Because whenever we look to this White House for some leadership, or consolation or any semblance of steadiness, what we get instead is chaos, division and a total and utter lack of empathy."

She said the last four years had been difficult to explain to America's children. "They see our leaders labeling fellow citizens enemies of the state, while emboldening torch-bearing white supremacists. "They watch in horror as children are torn from their families and thrown into cages and pepper spray and rubber bullets are used on peaceful protests for a photo op."

Mrs Obama continued: "Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is."

She described Mr Biden as a "profoundly decent man", touting the Democratic White House candidate's experience as vice-president under her husband, President Barack Obama. "We have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it," she said, wearing a necklace that said "Vote".