Biden endorses Harris, highlights achievements and denounces Trump
No president should bow to dictators like Donald Trump did to Vladimir Putin, said U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday at a Democratic election rally. He also stressed that "Kamala Harris would not do that." He also discussed his decision to withdraw from the presidential race.
20 August 2024 10:23
Biden, greeted with a several-minute standing ovation and the slogan "we love Joe," used his speech to highlight achievements, summarize a 50-year political career and present the stakes of the upcoming elections, which he believes are democracy itself. He recalled that in 2021, he was sworn in before the Capitol, which two weeks earlier was the site of dramatic scenes.
“It was a moment of danger and hope,” said Biden and added, “But democracy won, democracy met expectations, and democracy must be preserved.”
“I have five months left in my presidency and I still have a lot to do (...) I love this job, but I love my country even more. We must preserve democracy,” he emphasized.
Biden admitted: I am too old
The U.S. President admitted at the end of his speech that "he is too old" to remain president for another four years, but added, “America, for you, I gave my all.”
Biden noted that the achievements of his presidency, which he called "four extraordinary years of progress," were also the work of his potential successor, Vice President Kamala Harris. Among the successes, he listed, among others, lowering prescription drug prices, investing nearly CAN$1.4 trillion in infrastructure, and hundreds of billions of dollars in building semiconductor factories and the largest investment package in history for energy transformation.
“Donald Trump says we are a failing nation. He says we are losing. He is the loser (...) America is winning, and the world is benefiting from it,” Biden conveyed. He added that contrary to the former president's claims, statistics show that crime is dropping at the fastest rate in history. “And it will continue to drop if we put a prosecutor in the Oval Office instead of a convicted criminal,” he added, referring to Harris's career as a prosecutor in California and Trump's conviction in a criminal trial.
"No one should bow to dictators"
Speaking on foreign policy, the president expressed his disapproval of Trump's admiration for dictators, especially Putin.
“No president should bow to dictators like Donald Trump bowed to Vladimir Putin. I didn't do it, Kamala Harris won't do it either,” assured Biden, announcing that his successor would be a president respected by the world.
Biden also addressed the war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, admitting that demonstrators protesting against it have some right. “Many innocent people are dying (...) This war must end ” he said.
After the speech, which was received with loud applause, Biden and his wife Jill exchanged hugs with Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff.
Biden's speech concluded the first of four days of the Democratic convention in Chicago and symbolized the transfer of leadership in the party to Kamala Harris.
"Thank you for your historic leadership"
Earlier, Harris took the stage before Biden. In a short, unannounced, and unscheduled appearance, the Vice President took the stage and highlighted Biden's contributions to the country.
“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership and your lifetime of service to our country. We are eternally grateful to you,” said Harris, to which the crowd responded with chants of "thank you Joe."
Harris's main speech is scheduled for Thursday, the last day of the convention. Then she will officially accept the party's nomination.
Alongside Harris on Monday, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady Jill Biden also appeared. Celebrities, including singers Jason Isbell and James Taylor, also spoke. The U.S. basketball team coach and multiple NBA champion Steve Kerr delivered a speech supporting Harris and criticizing Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Harris was also supported from the stage by Shawn Fain, head of an important automotive industry union, who stated that "Kamala is one of them (union members)," and Trump is "a strikebreaker" and "a lapdog of billionaires." In a similar tone, fiery speeches were delivered in Chicago by two young rising stars of the party - congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett. The latter stated that Putin is Trump's biggest role model.
Despite the great enthusiasm of party activists, the first day of the Democratic convention did not go without disruptions. This was due to a protest organized by pro-Palestinian groups and the extreme left against the war in the Gaza Strip. Although, contrary to the organizers' announcements, the demonstration was small, some participants managed to knock down part of the metal fence surrounding the area around the Chicago Bulls' hall, where the convention is being held. The police managed to control the situation.
