- Several speakers thanked the president for his dedicated service to the United States.
- Biden recounts his administration's accomplishments in a speech.
- “America, I love you,” says President Joe Biden in his speech at the Democratic National Convention.
US President Joe Biden took to the stage at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Monday evening to deliver his farewell address.
According CNNBiden, 81, was proudly introduced on stage by his daughter, Ashley, as the torch was passed to Vice President Kamala Harris amid strong family support.
This is a significant moment as the president addresses his own party following his recent withdrawal from the race, forced by influential party members and voters.
With 50 years of public service behind him, this speech represents one of his last opportunities to defend his legacy and vision for the nation.
Earlier, several speakers at the event expressed their gratitude to Biden for his dedicated service to the country in their respective remarks.
He was introduced by his daughter, Ashley, who spoke after remarks by first lady Jill Biden.
As he took the stage, Biden hugged Ashley and appeared to wipe away tears with a tissue. Other members of the Biden family also became emotional as they watched the moment from the VIP suite.
The crowd applauded for more than four minutes before Biden began his speech by thanking his wife and first lady Jill Biden, calling her “our rock” in the family.
“Family is the beginning, the middle, and the end. And I love you all,” Biden said. “America, I love you.”
Biden listed his administration's accomplishments in his speech at the Democratic National Convention.
“As your president, I have been determined to keep America moving forward, not backward. To stand against hate and violence in all its forms, to be a nation where we not only live with diversity but thrive on it, demonizing no one, leaving no one behind, and becoming the nation we profess to be,” he said.
He also recalled his commitment to “rebuilding the backbone of America: the middle class.”
Biden touted that the bills he passed “did more for red states than for democrat states” because a president must deliver for all Americans.
“Thanks to you, and I'm not exaggerating, thanks to you, we've had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress in history, period. And when I say we, I'm talking about Kamala and me,” he added.
He also described the events that led to his decision to run in 2020, including the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The president said: “I just lost a piece of my soul, but I ran with a deep conviction in America. I know and believe in an America where honesty, dignity and decency still matter, an America where everyone has a fair chance and hate has no refuge.”
Several members of Biden's family gathered near the Delaware delegation on the convention floor.
Family members include Biden's children and grandchildren.
Thousands of mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters also marched in Chicago on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention, in a show of anger at the Biden administration's support for Israel in the Gaza war.
After hours of peaceful protests, dozens of demonstrators broke through part of the perimeter security fence, drawing riot police to the scene. Reuters The witness said.
The DNC security team confirmed that protesters breached a portion of the perimeter fence near the convention area, but said law enforcement responded quickly and there was no threat to attendees.
Reuters witnesses saw four people detained and handcuffed. Chicago police confirmed at a news conference that arrests had been made, but did not say how many.
The chants intensified before the fence breach, as protesters reached a neighborhood park on Chicago's West Side and paused to escalate their calls for a ceasefire. Amid the noise, the crowd directed their frustration toward Harris, referring to the Democratic nominee as “Kamala the killer.”
