Michelle Obama kicked off the Democratic National Convention with fierce criticism of Donald Trump and an impassioned call to vote for Joe Biden.
During the first day of online speeches, she told voters:
Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. 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 cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us. It is what it is.
She then added:
If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me, they can; and they will if we don't make a change in this election.
If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it.
But just five words of Obama's speech caught everyone's attention.
"It is what it is."
“It is what it is.” — Michelle Obama dropping fire from the high road— Adam Parkhomenko (@Adam Parkhomenko) 1597719513
“He’s clearly in over his head. It is what it is.” - Michelle Obama with the line of the night.— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel Jollett) 1597719638
My favorite thing about Michelle Obama’s speech was how she reiterated the need to go high right before she unleash… https://t.co/ra2cRHa9at— Matthew Miller (@Matthew Miller) 1597721396
The moment has already been made into a gif.
This gif forever 🥰 #ItIsWhatItIs #MichelleObama https://t.co/4ZwnGxncjp— 🐺 🐉 Brian Young 🗡️ 💛 (@🐺 🐉 Brian Young 🗡️ 💛) 1597721010
And people compared it to this iconic vine.
@RaquelWillis_ It’s in our DNA. https://t.co/6d4VoGN368— 📊 JHill (@📊 JHill) 1597724887
So why are people obsessed with the "it is what it is" line?
Some people were impressed by how effortlessly Obama's simple turn of phrase skewered Trump's last four years in office.
"It is what it is." Damn. Michelle Obama brought it all. #DemConvention— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1597719412
The DNC did an excellent job having Michelle Obama on opening night. America needed a closer to deliver an indictme… https://t.co/y6wD4mcxnY— The Blue Southern Jay 🏳️🌈 (@The Blue Southern Jay 🏳️🌈) 1597723610
Tonight’s speech by @MichelleObama was everything. “It is what it is”. Drop the mic. And now register and vote. https://t.co/FxtK6jNj98— Valerie Jarrett (@Valerie Jarrett) 1597721123
And the phrase also has particular resonance for Black Twitter.
"It is what it is." - Ancient Black proverb— Raquel Willis (@Raquel Willis) 1597719644
@WajahatAli Classic black gurl magic SHADE!! https://t.co/lsrOBGaUnA— Bridgette #Khaleesi👑 #Wakandan✖ House Stark🐺 (@Bridgette #Khaleesi👑 #Wakandan✖ House Stark🐺) 1597719955
Michelle Obama, citing an ancient African American dad proverb: “it is what it is”— Wesley (@Wesley) 1597719445
Some people interpreted it as a callback to Trump saying "it is what it is" about the US's coronavirus death toll.
That callous moment made its way into a Democrat political advert earlier this month.
It is what it is. What a brilliant retort to Trump’s callous and pathetic use of the same phrase.— David Plouffe (@David Plouffe) 1597719580
Damn. Michelle Obama just destroyed Donald Trump with his own “it is what it is” line.— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1597719448
‘Hello 911?, I’d like to report a murder at 1600 Penn: it is what it is.’ @realDonaldTrump— NoelCaslerComedy (@NoelCaslerComedy) 1597719772
While others joked that it might make its way into one of Melania Trump's speeches.
The first lady was accused of plagiarising Michelle Obama after people noticed familiar phrasing in her speech at the Republican National Convention in 2016.
Melania is taking notes, I bet at the #RNC she’ll be like “It is What It Should Be”— bevysmith (@bevysmith) 1597719569
"It is what it is." - Melania Trump, August 24th, 2020 https://t.co/X38RJ1oYP1— Curt (@Curt) 1597721538
Michelle Obama this week: “It is what it is...” Melania Trump next week: “Is it what it is?”— 🇵🇷 Gabriel T. Acevedo, PhD 🏳️🌈 (@🇵🇷 Gabriel T. Acevedo, PhD 🏳️🌈) 1597722240
Republican senator Lindsey Graham has already tried to turn the phrase back on the Democrats, but people weren't having it.
It is what it is. Without @BarackObama there would be no @realDonaldTrump.— Lindsey Graham (@Lindsey Graham) 1597719948
@LindseyGrahamSC @BarackObama @realDonaldTrump Hey Lindsey, here's a short bedtime story before you drift off. Nigh… https://t.co/Uc9ixEeYxX— 👑 KarenSupportsVPHarris! (@👑 KarenSupportsVPHarris!) 1597720683
(Yes, that tweet is real.)
Sorry Graham, but this is Michelle Obama's moment and we're all just living in it.
It is what it is.