News World Democratic Convention HIGHLIGHTS: From Harris's surprise appearance to Biden's fierce take on Trump | WATCH

Democratic Convention HIGHLIGHTS: From Harris's surprise appearance to Biden's fierce take on Trump | WATCH

The Democratic National Convention's first night showcased speeches from the last Democrat to lose to Donald Trump and the last one to beat him. Biden laced into Trump and directly acknowledged the concerns of protesters against the Gaza war who demonstrated a few blocks from the convention hall.

US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AT DNC Image Source : APUS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AT DNC

Chicago: President Joe Biden wrapped up the convention’s opening night by beginning his long political farewell with an address that both framed his own legacy and signalled he was ready to start ceding control of the party to Vice President Kamala Harris. He took the stage to a long, raucous ovation from delegates hoisting “We love Joe” placards and told them in turn, “I love you!” After the affectionate opening, Biden spent long stretches of his 50-minute speech lacing into Trump, returning to a key theme of the reelection campaign he’s no longer running. Biden ticked through many of his administration’s achievements, including a major public works package and climate program, and shared the credit with Harris. But the convention ran so late that Biden took the stage after prime time had ended in much of the country. That didn’t stop Biden from declaring, “America’s winning.”

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  • 10:02 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    KEY POINTS of Joe Biden speech at DNC

    • "Donald Trump is going to find out the power of women in 2024."
    • "I'll keep working to bring hostages home and end the war in Gaza and bring peace and security to the Middle East."
    • "It's been the honour of my lifetime to serve as your President. I love the job. But I love my country more."
    • “Kamala and Tim will continue to take on corporate greed and bring down cost of food.”
    • "Kamala and Tim will protect your freedom, protect your right to vote, to protect your civil rights. And you know, Trump will do everything to ban abortion nationwide. Oh, he will, you know, Kamala and Tim will do everything they possibly can. That's why you have to elect a Senate and House to restore Roe v Wade." 
    • "I promise i will be the best volunteer that Kamala and Tim have ever seen."
  • 9:46 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Biden defends his record in office

    • “I have been labelled the most pro-union president in history and I accept it."
    • "Kamala and I helped states and cities get back their schools, back open. And we gave public school teachers a raise."
    • "When [Donald Trump] talks about America being a failing nation he says we're losing. He's the loser, he's dead wrong."
    • "Putin thought he'd take Kyiv in three days. Three years later, Ukraine is still free."
  • 9:33 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Biden said he ran in 2020 because of what he saw in Charlottesville

    • "Pure Nazis, The Ku Klux Klan. … old ghosts in new garments.”
    • "I could not stand on the sidelines. And so I ran. Because I had no intention of running again. I just lost part of my soul."
    • "We came together in 2020 to save democracy."
    • "We're facing an inflection point. One of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine the fate of our nation and the world for decades to come. That's not hyperbole. I mean it literally. We're in a battle for the very soul of America."
  • 9:23 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    President Biden welcomed to the stage with a five-minute standing ovation | WATCH

    President Joe Biden came out to give his convention speech — only to be greeted with roughly five minutes worth of cheers, applause and chants of “Thank You, Joe.” “Thank you,” the president said repeatedly, as he took in the moment. The crowd in Chicago’s United Center held up signs with heart signs that said they loved him. “I love you all,” Biden said to a party that weeks earlier had worried about his ability to beat Donald Trump, causing the tough choice by him to forgo the nomination for Vice President Kamala Harris.

  • 9:23 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Jill Biden: ‘There are moments when I fall in love with him all over again’ | WATCH

    Before her husband spoke, Jill Biden used her speech to pay tribute to her husband President Joe Biden as a man who has repeatedly moved her over their decades of marriage.
    “Joe and I have been together for almost 50 years and still there are moments when I fall in love with him all over again,“ the first lady said, recalling how he held their daughter Ashley after her birth and again “just weeks ago, when I saw him dig deep into his soul and decide to no longer seek reelection and endorse Kamala Harris.”

  • 9:22 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    'When I look at Dad...': What Biden's daughter says about him

    Ashley Biden, President Joe Biden’s youngest child, introduced her “best friend” during an impassioned speech for her father ahead of his speech at the Democratic National Convention. “Dad always told me that I was no better than anybody else and nobody was better than me. He taught me that everybody deserves a fair shot and that we shouldn’t leave anyone behind,” said the younger Biden, who is a social worker in Philadelphia. “That’s what you learn from a fighter who has been underestimated his entire life.”

    “When I look at Dad, I see grace, strength and humility. I see one of the most consequential leaders ever in history,” Biden said to a round of applause. “This is the fight of our lifetime,” the younger Biden said of the election looming ahead. “All of this, all of it is on the ballot. And I know that we can do this together because my dad helped show us the way.”

    Biden reacts as he joins his daughter Ashley onstage during Day one of the Democratic National Convention

    Joe Biden embraces his daughter Ashley Biden during Day one of the Democratic National Convention

     

     

  • 9:05 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    WATCH: Biden's farewell speech at DNC

    Biden is currently addressing DNC:

    • "Let me ask you. Are you ready to vote for freedom?"
    • "Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?"
    • "There is no place in America for political violence, none. You cannot say you love your country only when you win."

  • 8:55 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Jasmine Crockett draws a snarky contrast between Harris and Trump

    The first-term Texan cheered Harris as a career prosecutor while declaring that the former president “became a career criminal, with 34 felonies, two impeachments and one porn star.” As the crowd roared, Crockett kept going. She said that the vice president has “lived the American Dream while he’s been America’s nightmare.” In another zinger, Crockett added that Harris “has a resume” while her opponent “has a rap sheet.”

  • 8:42 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Pelosi takes a front-row seat

    Ahead of President Biden’s speech, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived at the United Center and sat front row at the United Center. Pelosi was instrumental in the pressure campaign to force Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee last month, and the two old friends have not spoken since she presented the president with the concerns about his continued campaign.

  • 8:07 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Ocasio-Cortez lauds Harris' efforts to secure Gaza ceasefire in DNC speech

    Congress member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez praised Vice President Kamala Harris' efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza at the DNC on Monday. Harris is riding a historic whirlwind into the convention: her campaign has broken records for fundraising, packed arenas with supporters, and turned opinion polls in some battleground states in Democrats' favor.

  • 8:06 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    JUST IN: Hillary Clinton rouses Democrats with vision of Kamala Harris on ‘other side of that glass ceiling’ if elected president

    Hillary Clinton rouses Democrats with vision of Kamala Harris on ‘other side of that glass ceiling’ if elected president

  • 8:03 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Convention chants ‘lock him up’ during Hilary Clinton speech

    Hillary Clinton had a slam on Donald Trump that prompted the crowd at the Democratic convention to chant, “Lock him up,” a sly reference to the chorus of “Lock her up” that was repeated at Trump rallies about Clinton back in 2016. Clinton smiled at the irony that her remarks had prodded. “Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial,” she said. “When he woke up, he’d made his own kind of history: the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions.”

  • 8:03 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Hillary Clinton arrives to thunderous applause

    Hillary Clinton received an immediate standing ovation upon entering the stage on the Democratic convention’s first night. Clinton spent several moments waving at those assembled as cheers of “Hillary” echoed through the arena. “Wow, there’s a lot of energy in this room just like there is across the country. Something, something is happening in America. You can feel it,” Clinton said to cheers.

  • 8:02 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Harris to meet with Teamsters, but union president isn’t invited to speak at Democratic convention

    Members of the Teamsters will host Vice President Harris for a roundtable discussion in the near future, but union President Sean O’Brien has yet to get an invitation to speak at next week’s Democratic National Convention. Kara Deniz, a spokeswoman for the 1.3 million member union, said in an email Friday that the Teamsters are working with Harris’ campaign on dates for the roundtable. But O’Brien, who angered some Democrats by speaking at the GOP convention last month, has not received a reply to his request to speak at the Democratic National Convention, which begins Monday in Chicago, Deniz said Friday night.

  • 8:02 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    ‘We’re going to win this thing together’: Harris

    Tony Goldwyn got to hear some cheers for once as he played host to the primetime hours of the Democratic convention. The actor is best known for playing conniving and two-faced power-wielders in films including “Ghost,” “The Pelican Brief” and “Oppenheimer.” “We are going to win this thing together, and while we do it we are going to have a lot of fun,” Goldywn said to cheers.

  • 8:02 AM (IST) Posted by Ajit Kumar

    Harris makes surprise appearance on DNC’s first day and thanks Biden for his ‘historic leadership’

    Harris’ first words at the convention focused on the legacy of the man she has stood behind for the last three and a half years. Mirroring other Democrats Monday, Harris used her first moment on stage to thank Joe Biden for what she called his historic legacy. Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you will continue to do,” Harris said, addressing Biden. “We are forever grateful to you.”