Chicago: In an emotional moment at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, President Joe Biden received a standing ovation during his farewell speech. Introduced by his daughter Ashley, the 81-year-old president expressed his gratitude, saying, "I love you," to an audience that responded with deafening cheers. This heartfelt farewell came less than a month after Biden announced his decision to step aside in the presidential race, passing the torch to his vice president, Kamala Harris.
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| President Joe Biden, with tears in his eyes, receives a standing ovation during his farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, flanked by his daughter Ashley and wife Jill Biden. |
Biden's entrance was met with chants of "We love you, Joe" from a party that had recently urged him to step down due to concerns about his age. This decision marked one of the most surprising developments in recent U.S. political history.
"We both know we have more to do, but we're moving in the right direction," Biden said, acknowledging the challenges ahead while expressing confidence in Harris, who has swiftly revitalized the Democratic Party. Harris, the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, has turned the political tide, erasing Republican rival Donald Trump's lead in the polls.
Harris, breaking with convention tradition, spoke on the first night of the event to honor Biden, calling him an "incredible" president. "I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president Joe Biden," Harris said, wearing a tan suit and entering the stage to the tune of Beyoncé's "Freedom." She added, "We are forever grateful to you."
The farewell was a family affair, with Biden's wife, Jill, and their daughter, Ashley, by his side. "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," said the first lady, Jill Biden.
'Something is Happening'
The convention in Chicago was filled with a renewed sense of hope for the Democrats, who now see a potential victory in November—a prospect that seemed unlikely just weeks ago following Biden's challenging debate against Trump.
The opening night was emotionally charged, with key figures in the party reflecting on the significance of this moment. Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016 in her own bid to become the first female president, expressed her support for Harris. "Something is happening in America, you can feel it—something we've worked for and dreamed of for a long time," Clinton said.
The crowd also erupted in chants of "lock him up" as Clinton referenced Trump's recent conviction in a case involving hush money paid to a porn star—a moment of irony considering Trump had led similar chants against Clinton over her email controversy.
Harris is set to formally accept the party's nomination on Thursday, marking a pivotal moment in her campaign as she addresses millions of American voters. Throughout the week, the party's most prominent figures, including former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, will endorse Harris as the future of the Democratic Party.
'Craziness'
For Biden, this convention marks a shift from headliner to warm-up act, a role that reportedly frustrates him, despite his public insistence that he is at peace with his decision. "I am," Biden told reporters when asked if he was ready to pass the torch to Harris.
Outside the convention, protests against Israel's war in Gaza highlighted ongoing tensions within the party, particularly among left-wingers and Arab Americans. A group of demonstrators breached the convention's outer security fence before being stopped by police.
Meanwhile, Trump has been thrown into disarray by the sudden change at the top of the Democratic ticket. While Democrats convened in Chicago, Trump spent the week campaigning across the country, including in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, where he criticized Harris, calling her "crazy" and claiming she "has no idea what the hell she's doing" on economic issues.
The political landscape has been dramatically altered, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle as the election approaches.
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