Biden supports Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention.

On Monday, August 19, President Joe Biden took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to express his strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 presidential race.

Following a long and emotional standing ovation, Biden reminded voters of the reasons they backed him in 2020. He also made a compelling case for why they should help prevent Donald Trump from returning to the White House.

Biden began his speech by reflecting on the day he took office in January 2021. “My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, nearly four years ago in winter, on the steps of the Capitol on a cold January day, I raised my right hand and swore an oath to you and to God,” he said. Biden described the tense atmosphere, recalling how the Capitol had been overrun by a violent mob just two weeks earlier.

With gratitude, Biden told the audience, “Democracy has prevailed. Democracy has delivered. And now, democracy must be preserved.”

Highlighting Achievements and Praising Harris

During his speech, Biden reflected on his administration’s accomplishments. When the crowd began chanting, “Thank you, Joe,” he quickly added, “Thank you, Kamala, too.” He emphasized that the successes of his presidency were a joint effort, saying, “When I say ‘we,’ I mean ‘Kamala and me.’ We both know we have more to do, but we’re moving in the right direction.”

Although Biden still has five months left in his term, his ceremonial handoff to Harris highlighted his decision to step aside and allow her to run her campaign independently. He assured the audience that the best days of the country are still ahead, stating, “Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became the nominee, and it was the best decision I made in my whole career.”

Biden called Harris a close friend and praised her integrity. He also vowed to be the “best volunteer” for her campaign. Energizing the crowd, he asked, “Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?”

First Lady’s Support and Biden’s Legacy

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden also spoke earlier in the program, sharing a story about how her late stepson, Beau Biden, had once advised her and Joe to keep an eye on Harris when she was the attorney general of California.

Biden’s political career has spanned more than 50 years, beginning as a senator from Delaware in 1973. He served in that role until 2009, when he became vice president to Barack Obama. After unsuccessful bids for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and 2008, he finally won in 2020.

Biden Steps Aside for Harris

After concerns about his performance in a debate with Trump in June, Biden announced on July 21 that he would not seek re-election. “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president,” he said in a statement. “While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

Biden also expressed his support for Harris on social media that same day. “I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a picture of himself and Harris at the White House. He urged Democrats to unite, saying, “It’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”