Former President Obama on Friday urged Americans to vote because “our democracy depends on it,” saying the stakes are higher than any other election in his lifetime.

“I’m here to deliver a simple message: You need to vote because our democracy depends on it,” Obama said at a speech at the University of Illinois, as he wades back into the political fray.

OBAMA: "And as a fellow citizen, not as an ex-president, but as a fellow

citizen, I'm here to deliver a simple message, and that is that you need to vote because our democracy depends on it... a glance at recent headlines should tell you that this moment really is different." pic.twitter.com/XmOovToppX — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 7, 2018

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"But just a glance at recent headlines should tell you that this moment really is different,” he said. “The stakes really are higher. The consequences of any of us sitting on the sidelines are more dire."

Obama later in his speech turned directly to Trump, criticizing him for capitalizing on resentments between different Americans.

But Obama said Trump was a symptom of a larger problem, not the cause.

The speech Friday previews those arguments.

“I’m here today because this is one of those pivotal moments when every one of us as citizens of the United States need to determine just who it is that we are, just what it is that we stand for,” Obama said.