Joe Biden’s DNC Speech 2024 Highlights
President Joe Biden acquired an emotional standing ovation when he took the stage on the Democratic Nationwide Conference on Monday night time, roughly a month after he ended his reelection bid and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the get together’s nominee.
Biden, 81, appeared to wipe away tears as he hugged his daughter, Ashley, who launched him. The group cheered for greater than 4 minutes, chanting “We love Joe” and “Thank you, Joe,” earlier than he began his close to hour-long speech. The second marked a present of assist for Biden’s political profession, which has spanned greater than 50 years, and his determination to cross the torch to Harris.
His speech on the DNC had been thought of certainly one of his ultimate probabilities to make the case for his legacy after a number of members of his personal get together—many within the viewers—reportedly pressured him to exit the race. All through his remarks, Biden recounted the accomplishments of his Administration, defined why he ran for President in 2020, and took direct purpose at former President Donald Trump.
“As your President, I’ve been determined to keep America moving forward, not going back,” Biden stated. “To stand against hate and violence and all its forms, to be a nation where we not only live with but thrive on diversity, demonizing no one, leaving no one behind, and become a nation that we profess to be.”
Listed below are among the greatest moments from Biden’s speech on the DNC.
Biden formally passes the torch to Harris
Biden praised his vice chairman all through his speech, telling Democrats that Harris shall be a “President our children could look up to.” He made certain to credit score her for his or her Administration’s accomplishments after chants of “Thank you, Joe” broke out. “Thank you, Kamala, too,” Biden stated—a recognition that his legacy is now tied to hers.
“We’ve had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever, period. And when I say we, I mean Kamala and me,” he stated.
“She’ll be a President respected by world leaders, because she already is,” Biden added. “She’ll be a President we can all be proud of, and she will be a historic President who puts her stamp on America’s future.”
He informed supporters that he would be the “best volunteer” for her marketing campaign and urged voters to point out up on Election Day. “Like many of our best Presidents, she was also vice president,” he stated, an implicit nod to his personal background as a former vice chairman.
Biden additionally used a part of his speech to highlight among the points Harris and her operating mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are championing, together with their marketing campaign’s recently-revealed financial coverage agenda: “Kamala and Tim will continue to take on corporate greed and bring down the cost of food,” he stated, in reference to her plan to cross a first-ever federal ban on worth gouging.
“They’ll make housing more affordable by building 3 million new homes, providing $25,000 down payment assistance for the first-time homebuyer,” Biden added.
Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff joined Biden and First Woman Jill Biden on stage after he concluded his speech. Harris might be seen saying “I love you” whereas hugging the President.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hug on stage after his farewell conference speech on the primary day of the DNC on the United Heart in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024.Robyn Beck—AFP/Getty Pictures
Biden bids farewell and says he’s not indignant at Democrats who referred to as for his exit
A big portion of Biden’s speech was used to record his Administration’s achievements, similar to bringing the nation again from the COVID-19 pandemic, making historic investments in infrastructure, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and decreasing prescription drug costs. However he additionally devoted time to mark a wistful bookend to his nationwide political profession, which started in 1972, when he got here into the highlight as a youthful and energetic 29-year-old operating for the Senate.
Biden boasts a prolonged political document: He was elected to the Senate at simply 29, ran for the Democratic nomination for President twice earlier than becoming a member of Barack Obama’s historic ticket as operating mate in 2008—serving two phrases as vice chairman throughout which he used his expertise to assist usher by way of offers with Congress—and was lastly elected President in 2020. “Nowhere else in the world could a kid with a stutter and modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Delaware grow up to sit behind the desk in the Oval Office,” he stated.
He touted his Administration’s legislative wins and stated that Harris and Walz “understand that this nation must continue to be a place of possibilities, not just for the few of us, but for all of us.” Biden additionally recounted his dedication to “rebuild the backbone of America—the middle class” and stated that the payments he handed “did more for red states than blue.”
“I made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you. For 50 years, like many of you, I’ve given my heart and soul to our nation, and I’ve been blessed a million times in return with the support of the American people,” Biden stated. “I remember being too young to be in the Senate because I wasn’t 30 yet, and too old to stay as President. But I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you.”
Biden additionally addressed the elephant within the room, telling the conference crowd that he harbors no sick will in the direction of the Democrats who publicly and privately urged him to drop out of the 2024 race.
“All this talk about how I’m angry at all the people who said I should step down—that’s not true,” Biden stated, as the gang chanted “We love Joe.”
“I love my country more, and we need to preserve our democracy,” he stated.
Delegates on the DNC maintain up indicators studying “We [love] Joe” as President Joe Biden speaks on the conference in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024.Charly Triballeau—AFP/Getty Pictures
Biden acknowledges anti-war protesters ‘have a point’
Biden used a part of his speech to handle the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has been a reason behind division inside the Democratic Social gathering, saying that protesters calling for an finish to the violence in opposition to Palestinians “have a point.”
“We’re working around the clock, my Secretary of State, to prevent a wider war and reunite hostages with their families and surge humanitarian health and food assistance into Gaza now,” Biden stated. “To end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally deliver a ceasefire and end this war.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Monday that Israel has accepted a proposal to bridge variations in ceasefire and hostage launch negotiations, and referred to as for Hamas to simply accept the phrases. Anti-war protests have taken place throughout the nation, together with exterior the conference in Chicago, as demonstrators hope to strain the Biden Administration and Democratic Social gathering to cease supporting Israel.
“Those protesters out in the street, they have a point, a lot of innocent people are being killed, both sides,” Biden added. Round 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, whereas greater than 1,200 Israelis have been killed since Oct. 7 final yr, in response to estimates from the United Nations.
Biden takes purpose at Trump and urges supporters to get out and vote
Biden made a number of references to Trump all through his speech, calling the Republican nominee whom he beat in 2020 a “loser” who “put himself first and America last.” Biden took explicit purpose at Trump’s frequent assertion that the U.S. is a rustic in decline: “He says we’re losing. He’s a loser. He’s dead wrong.”
“All of us carry a special obligation,” Biden stated, addressing not simply Democrats however People of all political stripes. “We saved democracy in 2020 and now we must save it again in 2024,” he added, urging individuals to vote for Harris with a purpose to forestall a second time period below Trump.
“We’re in a battle for the very soul of America,” Biden stated, echoing his marketing campaign chorus from 2020. “America’s future is in your hands.”
Biden walks off the stage after giving his farewell DNC tackle in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Pictures