Kamala Harris In his presidential acceptance speech he presented himself as a leader who could unite all Americans and forge a “new way forward,” and warned of “very serious” consequences of returning his Republican rival Donald Trump to the White House.
Vice President Harris, of Indian and African descent, accepted her party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday night. She became the second woman to do so for the Democratic Party after former First Lady Hillary Clinton.
The 59-year-old leader took the stage to loud cheers and a standing ovation from the audience. His speech was preceded by chants of “Yes you can!”
Taking the stage at Chicago’s United Center to accept her nomination, Ms Harris, who was a tough prosecutor in California before becoming US vice-president, said impossible journeys were nothing new for her.
“On behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or language, on behalf of my mother and all those who began their impossible journey, on behalf of Americans, like the people I grew up with, who work hard, pursue their dreams and take care of each other, on behalf of all those whose story can only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to the United States of America,” she said.
She recalled her mother Shyamala Gopalan saying she misses her every day, especially when she is on the verge of breaking the highest ceiling in the United States.
He said that the election of November 5 is the most important election in the history of America.
“With this election, our country has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move beyond the bitterness, pessimism and divisive battles of the past. A chance to chart a new path forward. Not as members of a party or faction, but as Americans,” he said in his 40-minute speech.
Vice President Harris outlined her plans for “a new way forward” if elected the 47th President of the United States.
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations. A president who leads – and listens. Who is realistic, pragmatic and has common sense. And who always fights for the American people. From the courtroom to the White House, that has been my life’s work,” Ms Harris said.
He laid out the consequences of former President Trump (78) being elected for a second term.
“In many ways Donald Trump is a non-serious person, but the consequences of bringing Donald Trump back into the White House would be extremely serious,” he warned.
He spoke about the “chaos and disaster” of his years in the Oval Office and also pointed to his questioning of the election results in 2020, when he lost his re-election bid to Biden.
He said, “Donald Trump tried to ruin your votes. When he failed, he sent an armed mob into the United States Capitol, where they attacked law enforcement officers. When politicians from his own party pleaded with him to call off the mob and send help, he did the opposite. He fueled the fire.”
Ms. Harris also noted that Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts in a money-laundering case and that a federal jury in his civil defamation suit found that the former president sexually abused author E. Jean Carroll.
“A jury of ordinary Americans found him guilty of fraud, and also found him separately liable for sexual abuse,” he said.
Describing her “unexpected” ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket after President Joe Biden decided to drop out of the race in July, Ms Harris said she was “no stranger to unlikely journeys.”
“America, the path I’ve taken to get here in recent weeks was undoubtedly unexpected. But I’m also familiar with unexpected journeys,” Ms. Harris said.
Ms Harris said she misses her mother every day and the values she taught her. She said she misses her every day, especially as she is on the verge of breaking the highest glass ceiling in the United States.
He said his mother taught him to “never do anything half-heartedly.”
If Ms Harris is elected, she will break one of the highest barriers for women in the United States – that of holding the country’s top office.
At the end of her address, she also wished her husband Doug Emhoff a happy anniversary.
Thursday was the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary.
She said she would ensure that America remains strong and does not lose its global leadership.
“I will ensure that we lead the world in space and artificial intelligence, and that America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century,” Ms Harris, 59, said in her address to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. “And that we strengthen, not relinquish, our global leadership.”
Ms Harris, who will take on former President Trump in the November 5 election, said her Republican rival does not fight for the middle class.
“Instead, he’s fighting for himself and his billionaire friends. He’ll give them another tax break, which will add five trillion dollars to the national debt,” he said.
Ms Harris also called for reform of the broken immigration system.
“We can create an earned path to citizenship—and secure our border. America, we must also remain resolute in advancing our security and our values abroad,” he said.
Ms Harris has said that if she is elected America’s commander-in-chief, she will ensure that the country always has the strongest and deadliest fighting force in the world, that Israel can defend itself, and that Ukraine and NATO allies are not left alone.
“And I can’t mix with dictators and autocrats like Kim Jong Un who are supporting Trump. Because they know they can be manipulated through flattery and favouritism. They know Trump will not hold dictators accountable – because he wants to remain a dictator,” she added.
She said, “As President, I will never back down in defending America’s security and ideals. Because, in the ongoing struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand — and where the United States is.”
Ms Harris said that as Vice President she has confronted security threats, negotiated with foreign leaders, strengthened alliances and worked with brave troops overseas.
“As Commander-in-Chief, I will ensure that America always has the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world. I will fulfill my sacred obligation to care for our troops and their families,” she said.
“I will always honor their service and sacrifice, and will never denigrate them,” she said.
Trump, on the other hand, threatened to leave NATO. He encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack America’s allies, he said.
He alleged that Trump said Russia “can do whatever it wants”.
Ms Harris said she had met with President Volodymyr Zelensky five days before Russia invaded Ukraine and warned him about Russia’s invasion plans.
“I helped mobilize a global response of more than 50 countries to defend against Putin’s aggression. And as president, I will stand firmly with Ukraine and our NATO allies,” she said.
On the devastating Gaza war, she said: “President Biden and I are working around the clock. Because now is the time for a hostage agreement and a ceasefire. Let me be clear: I will always stand up for Israel’s right to self-defense and I will always make sure that Israel has the ability to defend itself.”
Trump reacted to Harris’ speech in real-time on Truth Social.
Trump posted, “Is she talking about me?”
The former president posted a series of rapid-fire criticisms of Ms. Harris’ speech, saying there was “too much talk about childhood,” and “too many ‘thank yous’ said too early.” Trump repeatedly questioned why Ms. Harris had not already rolled out the policy proposals she had laid out as part of her re-election campaign while serving as vice president.
“He said, ‘Chart a new path forward,’ but he’s had three and a half years, and he’s done nothing but harm!” Trump wrote.
His speech was just 38 minutes long, the 12th shortest in modern history, while his rival Trump holds the record for the three longest acceptance speeches in American political history.