Michelle Obama warns Arizona of a ‘hopeless’ America under Donald Trump

After the last US presidential debate held Wednesday, Michelle Obama warned Republican-leaning voters in Arizona that a Donald Trump presidency will only paint a hopeless vision for the United States.

Without naming the Republican presidential candidate, the First Lady criticised Trump for questioning the legitimacy of the election if he doesn’t win the race to the White House against his archrival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In a speech before a crowd of 7,000 people Thursday, Mrs. Obama said Trump supporters’ claim of a rigged election is meant to discourage American voters to show up at polling centers on Nov. 8. Trump himself admitted that he will only accept the election results if he wins.

"They are trying to convince you that your vote doesn’t matter, that the outcome has already been determined and you shouldn’t even bother to make your voice heard.”

"The voters decide who wins and loses, period, end of story, and when a presidential candidate threatens to ignore our voices and reject the outcome of this election he is threatening the very idea of America itself and we cannot stand for that. You do not keep American democracy in suspense,” Mrs. Obama said, alluding to Trump’s refusal to answer if he will accept the outcome of the election when he said, “I’ll keep you in suspense, OK?”

Meanwhile in Ohio, Trump maintained that he will only accept the result of the US presidential election if he wins. (Read: Eminem disses Donald Trump on his ‘Campaign Speech’)

"I would like to promise and pledge to all of my voters and supporters and to all of the people of the United States that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election, if I win," he told his supporters in Delaware.

Back in Mrs. Obama described the 70-year-old real estate businessman as a “candidate whose vision for our country is completely and utterly lacking in hope. A candidate who tells us that our country is desperate and weak, that our communities are in chaos, that our fellow citizens are a threat. A candidate who calls on us to turn against each other to build walls.”

“One candidate is offering a vision that is grounded in hopelessness and despair. A vision of a country riven by division and ruled by fear. A country where some folks get all the breaks and the rest of us are left behind.”

“But fortunately there is another candidate in this race, who is offering a very different vision for this country,” said Mrs. Obama, apparently referring to the Democratic Party nominee and former First Lady Clinton.

Mrs. Obama went on to say, "If you vote for someone other than Hillary or if you don't vote at all, then you are helping to elect her opponent. So I want you all to think about that for a minute. Think about how you’ll feel waking up on Nov. 9 if that happens. Imagine how you’ll feel if you stay at home."