In-person school events like proms are among the many events that have been cancelled amidst concerns about the spread of the Coronvirus, but this week, former First Lady Michelle Obama’s voting advocacy organization called When We All Vote partnered with MTV for the broadcast of a special “prom” event, featuring special guest musical performers and more. Originally, When We All Vote was going to put on special in-person events for high schools that won voter registration contests, but as in-person events wound down, the organizations shifted their focus to a broadcast that anyone could watch and participate in. In a video message posted to Twitter, Michelle Obama offered encouragement to the students tuning in — and reminded them to register to vote.
She posted:
‘I’m so proud of the #Classof2020 and all you’ve accomplished this year. Tonight’s #MTVPromathon is for you––you deserve a dance break! Don’t forget to register to vote and invite three friends to do the same by texting PROM to 56005 or by going to http://whenweallvote.org/mtv.’
I'm so proud of the #Classof2020 and all you've accomplished this year. Tonight's #MTVPromathon is for you––you deserve a dance break!
Don't forget to register to vote and invite three friends to do the same by texting PROM to 56005 or by going to https://t.co/KZPeCe1ryV. pic.twitter.com/JGwYjV2cCg
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 23, 2020
It’s difficult, at best, to imagine any similar message or program from the actual current president, Donald Trump. Indeed — recently, major broadcast networks united for their own special broadcast honoring the class of 2020, and Trump was not involved, even though he is the current president of the United States, and the event could have been a great opportunity for the president to offer an encouraging public message. Instead, former President Barack Obama was involved, and he delivered a short speech as part of the event.
“But if we’re going to get through these difficult times; if we’re going to create a world where everyone can find a job & afford college; if we’re going to save the environment & defeat future pandemics—then we’re going to have to do it together.“
I’m in.https://t.co/C7bAAal1xQ
— Buffy Wicks (@BuffyWicks) May 17, 2020
On Friday, the same day that Michelle Obama helped host the When We All Vote “promathon,” the actual current president was at the White House, where he hosted a bizarre Bikers for Trump-style event. After brief remarks in which he packed in wild lies about his political opponents — including that the Obamas should be held accountable for not leaving Coronavirus tests behind, although the disease was not detected until three years after they left office — Trump invited a group of bikers who were ostensibly there to honor Memorial Day to fire up their engines and ride around the White House driveways. One observer quipped that the spectacle looked like a deleted scene from the political satire Idiocracy.
It's like a deleted scene from Idiocracy https://t.co/aF0pgBfAoo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 22, 2020
Check out Twitter’s response to Michelle Obama below:
