President Biden defended his record and promised to be the “best volunteer” for Kamala Harris in a 49-minute speech on Monday night, going well past midnight on the East Coast.
The convention was running more than an hour late by the time the president took the stage at the United Center in Chicago. A performance from James Taylor, slotted just before the introduction from Biden’s daughter, had to be cut for time.
The president got a four-minute ovation from the crowd, who chanted “Thank you, Joe!” at various points in the speech. The speech was also briefly interrupted at one point by pro-Palestinian protesters who unfurled a banner reading “Stop Arming Israel.”
The speech was billed as a moment for Biden to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, who sat with her running mate, Tim Walz, in the stands, and came on stage afterward with her husband, Doug Emhoff, to embrace the president.
“I love the job, but I love my country more,” Biden said.
Biden stumbled over his words at a few points, and made a few self-deprecating references to his age.
“I know more foreign leaders by their first names and know them better than anyone alive — just because I’m so damn old,” he said.
He took a few shots at former President Trump, calling him a “loser” at one point. He also defended his record on infrastructure, capping the cost of prescription drugs, and his support for Ukraine.
“Ukraine is still free,” he said, to applause.
The president noted that he had five months remaining on the job, and said he has “a lot to do.” In particular, he cited the work of getting a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
“Those protesters out on the street, they have a point,” he said.
Later on, he quoted from a song, “American Anthem,” that he had also cited in his inaugural address in 2021.
“Let me know in my heart, when my days are through,” he said. “America, America I gave my best to you.”
Source Agencies
