Biden says 'I gave my best' as he passes torch to Harris
CHICAGO
An emotional U.S. President Joe Biden passed the torch to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris with a hug on Monday, delivering a bittersweet farewell speech at the party's convention in Chicago, during which he said he gave everything for his country.
"America, America, I gave my best to you," the 81-year-old Biden said, quoting a patriotic hymn during a nearly hour-long address that highlighted his accomplishments while urging voters to support his vice president against Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.
Harris joined him on stage after the speech, and the pair embraced as the crowd gave Biden a rapturous reception following his stunning decision less than a month ago to drop out of the 2024 White House race.
In a remarkable turnaround, Harris has reenergized the party and erased Trump's lead in the polls. However, Biden insisted he was not bitter about stepping aside. Instead, as he contemplates the imminent end of his five-decade political career, he expressed that he had done what he thought was necessary to ensure Trump does not return to the Oval Office.
"I love the job, but I love my country more. I love my country more," said Biden. "And all this talk about how I'm angry at all those people who said I should step down—that's not true."
Both Biden and Harris appeared to wipe away tears as the U.S. leader received a lengthy four-minute ovation when he first took the stage, following an introduction by First Lady Jill Biden and his daughter Ashley.
Several audience members were also in tears as Biden delivered his farewell address, leaving the stage to the strains of the song "Higher Love."
'Gave my best'
Earlier in the evening, Harris made a surprise appearance—Democratic nominees typically do not speak until the final day of the convention—to pay tribute to her boss.
"I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden," said Harris, who wore a tan suit as she took the stage to Beyoncé's "Freedom." "We are forever grateful to you."
While it was undoubtedly a challenging swan song for Biden, he emphasized that he would be the "best volunteer" for Harris's campaign, knowing that his legacy depends on her ability to defeat Trump.
However, he couldn't quite let go of the presidency, with his speech focusing more on his own record in office than on the future under a President Harris.
Biden listed his proudest achievements, including progress on the economy and health care, but above all, emphasized healing the "soul of America" after Trump's presidency and the pro-Trump Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
"Donald Trump calls America a failing nation... He says we're losing. He's the loser," he stated, also referring to Trump as a "convicted felon" after the Republican was found guilty of doctoring business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star.
Despite his low popularity ratings and the debate debacle against Trump that led him to step aside, Biden maintained that he had given his all.
"I made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you," he said.
Protests against Gaza war
As he has throughout his five-decade political journey, Biden was surrounded by family at the conclusion of his speech.
"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 in her introduction.
Monday’s opening night of the convention was emotional on many levels for key players. Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016 in her bid to become America's first female president, backed Harris in breaking the glass ceiling.
"Something is happening in America, you can feel it—something we've worked for and dreamed of for a long time," the former Secretary of State and First Lady said.
Earlier, protests against Israel's war in Gaza cast a shadow over the convention's opening, highlighting a potential vote-loser for Democrats among left-wing constituents and Arab Americans.
A group of demonstrators breached the outer security fence of the convention after splitting off from a larger protest involving thousands of people. Police wearing blue helmets and carrying shields prevented them from reaching the inner cordon.
"I will keep working to bring hostages home, end the war in Gaza, and bring peace and security to the Middle East," Biden said in his speech.
"We are working around the clock…to prevent a wider war, to reunite hostages with their families, and surge humanitarian health and food assistance in Gaza. To end civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and to finally deliver a cease-fire and end this war," he added.
As the convention kicked off earlier Monday, thousands of pro-Palestine protestors gathered in Chicago to push for an end to US support for Israel's war on Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed.
As delegates arrived at the convention center, protesters marched through downtown Chicago, periodically chanting slogans such as "Free, free Palestine” hours before Biden was set to address the convention.
"Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed, on both sides," Biden said.
Meanwhile, Trump has been sent into a tailspin by the sudden shift at the top of the Democratic ticket. While Democrats are in Chicago, Trump will spend the week crisscrossing the country.
In the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Monday, he criticized Harris's "craziness," claiming she "has no idea what the hell she's doing" regarding the economy.
