Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureBiden once again deployed a line that both trumpeted his own achievements and subtly passed the torch to Kamala Harris.The president was talking about how violent crime has been declining nationally, then segued into complimenting Harris and attacking Donald Trump’s recent criminal conviction.“The murder rate is falling faster than at any time in history,” Biden said. “Violent crime has dropped to the lowest level of more than 50 years, and crime will keep coming down when we put a prosecutor in the Oval Office instead of a convicted felon.”ShareWe can watch the teleprompter from our perch in the United Center, and can see Biden is going off script occasionally.In one case, it was to make light of his age. “I know more foreign leaders by their first names and know them well than anybody alive, just because I’m so damn old,” the president said.ShareBiden again brands Trump a ‘loser’Joe Biden again attacked Donald Trump as a “loser” for characterizing the United States as a nation in decline.“Donald Trump calls America a failing nation,” Biden said. “When he talks about America being a failing nation, he says, we’re losing. He’s the loser. He’s dead wrong.”ShareUpdated at 05.55 CESTBiden appears emotional after daughter Ashley introduces himHere’s an image of the emotional moment when Joe Biden took to the stage at the convention after his daughter, Ashley, introduced him:Joe Biden wipes his eyes as he joins his daughter Ashley onstage. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/ReutersThe president gave heartfelt remarks about his children and his wife, Jill Biden, to kick off his speech. He also appeared to get emotional as the crowd repeatedly interrupted his remarks with lengthy “we love Joe” and “thank you, Joe” chants.ShareUpdated at 05.52 CESTThis is a historic speech for Biden, but he’s not necessarily debuting new lines.Rather, he’s using oldies-but-goodies, such as: “Wall Street didn’t build America, the middle class built America, and unions, unions built the middle class.”Share’We finally beat Big Pharma’: Biden recounts achievementsBiden is both recounting the accomplishments of his administration, and noting Kamala Harris’s role.“We’ve had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever, period,” Biden said. “Just think about it. Covid no longer controls our lives. We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the entire world … record 16m new jobs, record small business growth, record high stock market … wages up, inflation down, way down, and continuing to go down.”He then remarked on his efforts to lower prescription drug prices, saying: “We finally beat Big Pharma.”“Guess who cast the tie-breaking vote? Vice-president, soon-to-be-president, Kamala Harris,” Biden said.At one point, the crowd again began chanting “thank you Joe!” “Thank you Kamala,” the president replied.ShareUpdated at 05.53 CEST’Democracy has prevailed’, Biden tells conventionJoe Biden then reminded the Democrats of all that has passed in the three-and-a-half years since he took office in the wake of the January 6 attack.“It was, I told you then, a winter of peril and possibility … we were in the grip of a once-in-a-century pandemic, historic joblessness, a call for racial justice, long overdue, clear and present threats to our very democracy,” Biden said. “Yet, I believe then and I believe now, that progress was and is possible. Justice is achievable, and our best days are not behind us. They’re before us.”He continues with the metaphor:
Now, it’s summer. The winter has passed. With a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered, and now democracy must be preserved.
ShareThe president then turned to more somber matters, describing how he was inaugurated just a few weeks after the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.“Nearly four years ago, in winter, on the steps of the Capitol on a cold January day, I raised my right hand and I swore an oath to you and to God to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and to faithfully execute the office of the president United States,” Biden said.“In front of me was the city, surrounded by the national guard. Behind me a Capitol, just two weeks before, overrun by a violent mob. But I knew then, from the bottom of my heart, that I knew now there is no place in America for political violence, none.”Reprising a line he’s used before, which is of course a reference to Donald Trump, the president said: “You cannot say you love your country only when you win.”ShareAs begins his remarks, it’s clear that Joe Biden has this crowd wrapped around his finger.“Folks, let me ask you: are you ready to vote for freedom?” he asked. The response from the crowd was a big “yes!”“Are ready to vote for democracy and for America?” The answer was “yes!” again.“Let me ask you, are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” This time, the “yes!” was even louder.ShareLots of people have received warm welcomes at this convention, but none quite like Joe Biden.He hasn’t yet been able to say anything because of all the cheering.ShareThe Democrats are very excited to see Joe Biden.They’re holding up signs that read “We ♥ Joe”, and just cheering and cheering. The president is saying “thank you, thank you, thank you,” and just said, “I love you!”This is likely to be one of the last major speeches Biden makes in his political career.ShareJoe Biden addresses Democratic national conventionJoe Biden has come onstage at the Democratic national convention.The president jogged out, and is hugging and exchanging words with his daughter, Ashley, who introduced him.At one point, he took out a handkerchief and dabbed his eye.ShareJoe Biden expected to speak at Democratic convention, as daughter gives introductionJoe Biden is set to, in a few minutes, take the stage at the Democratic national convention, where he will reaffirm his endorsement of Kamala Harris as his successor.His daughter, Ashley Biden, is introducing the president.“You always tell us, but we don’t tell you enough, that you are the love of our lives and the life of our love,” the first daughter said.ShareJill Biden says president dug ‘deep into his soul’ in deciding to end re-election bidJoe Biden’s decision not to seek a second term as president was perhaps the biggest decision of his political career, and one that came only after some serious soul searching, Jill Biden said.There are moments when I fall in love with him all over again,” the first lady said. Among them:
Weeks ago, when I saw him dig deep into his soul and decide to no longer seek re-election and endorse Kamala Harris. With faith and conviction, Joe knows that our nation’s strength doesn’t come from intimidation or cruelty, it comes from the small acts of kindness that heal deep wounds, from service to the communities that make us who we are, from love of a country that shines with promise and renewal. Kamala Harris knows that too.
ShareJill Biden addresses Democratic conventionFirst lady Jill Biden has walked onstage.She is wearing a sparkly blue dress. The crowd greeted her with green signs that read “JILL”.This post has been corrected to read that the dress is blue, not gray.ShareUpdated at 05.25 CEST