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US Election 2020: Michelle Obama issues blistering attack on 'racist' and 'liar' Trump

Michelle Obama has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, accusing him of "wilful mismanagement" of the coronavirus crisis, "breathtaking failures" and racism.

In a newly-released video, the former US first lady delivered her wide-ranging message straight to the camera as she lambasted the president's time as leader and pleaded with Americans to vote to kick him out of the White House.

"Search you hearts and your conscience and then vote for Joe Biden like your lives depend on it," she said in her 26-minute appeal - entitled "Michelle Obama's Closing Argument".

Mrs Obama said the country was "in chaos because of a president who isn't up to the job" and attacked his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Watch: Michelle Obama’s blistering attack on Trump

The 56-year-old claimed the president "knew how deadly this virus is, but who lied to us, and told us it would just disappear" and "in the greatest crisis of our lifetimes doubled down on division and resentment".

She claimed the US has fared much worse than comparable countries, and that the 210,000 deaths from the virus easily exceed wars like Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea combined.

"From his constant downplaying of the importance of masks and social distancing, to his relentless pressure on schools to open... We simply cannot trust this president to tell us the truth about anything," said Mrs Obama - whose video was released by Mr Biden's campaign.

Mr Trump has been "missing in action" and trying to "gaslight the American public like this pandemic is not a real threat", according to Mrs Obama.

The president has consistently defended his handling of the pandemic, for example saying his decision to impose early travel restrictions had saved thousands of US lives.

On leaving hospital on Monday - where he was being treated for coronavirus - he told people "don't be afraid" of COVID-19 and said medicines to treat the virus are "all getting approved", with vaccines "coming momentarily".

Mrs Obama - who some have suggested could one day be a presidential hopeful herself - also accused the president of cronyism and greed in her message.

She painted him as out of touch with working-class Americans and claimed his life has been devoted to "enriching himself, his family, and other wealthy people" through measures such as corporate tax cuts.

The run-up to next month's election has seen racial tensions at a high following the killing of George Floyd and protests - occasionally violent - in some cities, as demonstrators clashed with police and rival groups.

"Let's be very real, America is divided right now and a lot of people are being sold lies," conceded Mrs Obama.

She said the vast majority of protests have been peaceful and accused Mr Trump and his supporters of "stoking fears about black and brown Americans, lying about how minorities will destroy the suburbs, whipping up violence and intimidation".

"What the president is doing is once again patently false, it's morally wrong," she said.

"And yes, it is racist - but that doesn't mean it won't work... And when people hear these lies and crazy conspiracies repeated over and over and over again they don't know what to think."

"The one thing this president is really, really good at is using fear and confusion and spreading lies to win," she told viewers.

After her blistering attack on Mr Trump, she made a passionate appeal for people to choose his rival Joe Biden - and to crucially get out and vote.

Mrs Obama said - like four years ago - the election was too close to call with a few votes in certain areas potentially proving decisive.

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She said 77-year-old Mr Biden, the current frontrunner in the polls, was a "leader who will help heal this nation and instead of tearing people apart, he will bring people together".

"Please take a moment pause, click off the news... and think about what the next four years could mean for our country's future - the message we will send to our children about who we are and what we truly value," she pleaded.

Mr Biden's first clash with President Trump in this year's debate series was widely criticised as a shambles - largely due to Mr Trump's constant interruptions.

The president tweeted on Tuesday that he was "looking forward" to the next debate on 15 October in Miami.

The election itself takes place on 3 November.