Wearing a baseball cap bearing the letter “D” for Detroit, rap icon Eminem took the stage at a get-out-the-vote rally supporting Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris Tuesday night, where he also introduced former President Barack Obama. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rap icon Eminem and former President Barack Obama appeared at a get-out-the-vote event supporting Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in Detroit Tuesday

  • “I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld,” Eminem said

  • Obama rapped part of Eminem's hit song "Lose Yourself"

  • Trump is "someone who wants unchecked power," Obama said

As most of you know, the city of Detroit and the whole state of Michigan mean a lot to me,” the Detroit native said to a crowd where fans screamed, “I love you.”

“Going into this election, the spotlight is on us more than ever, and I think it’s important to use your voice," Eminem added.

Michigan is one of seven battleground states that are key to winning this year’s election. Both Harris and former President Donald Trump have visited the area numerous times in recent months to shore up the vote in a state with a large Arab population unhappy about U.S. support for Israel and an auto industry that’s in flux as it transitions to electric vehicles.

“I’m encouraging everybody to get out and vote, please. I also think that people shouldn’t be afraid to express their opinions, and I don’t think anyone wants an America where people are worried about retribution or what people would do if you make your opinion known,” Eminem said, referencing former President Donald Trump’s threats to persecute his enemies if reelected without mentioning Trump by name.

“I think Vice President Harris supports a future for this country where these freedoms and many others will be protected and upheld.”

He then introduced Obama, who said he was nervous taking the stage following the 15-time Grammy winner who has sold over 220 million records globally.

“I noticed my palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, vomit on my sweater already, mom’s spaghetti,” the president said, rapping the lyrics to the rapper’s 2002 hit “Lose Yourself" to rile up the crowd.

To cheers worthy of a rock concert, Obama said he thought Eminem would be performing, and he “was gonna jump out. Love me some Eminem.”

What he doesn’t love is Trump, he made clear during a speech that reminded voters of the GOP nominee’s attempts to “spread lies about voter fraud in Michigan” after losing to President Biden with 47.8% of the state’s votes in 2020. “Protesters came down, banged on the windows, shouting, ‘Let us in. Stop the count.’”

Trump is “someone who wants unchecked power,” Obama said.

Trolling his successor, Obama criticized Trump for working at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania this week — a publicity stunt he orchestrated following his repeated and false claims that Harris never worked for the fast-food chain.

Harris “worked at McDonald’s when in college to pay her expenses,” Obama said. “She did not pretend to work at McDonald’s when it was closed.”