DNC Day 1: Hillary Clinton, Harris Salute Biden Ahead Of President’s Speech (Live Updates)

 

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during the 2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Monday, August 19, 2024.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris commemorated President Joe Biden’s legacy Monday on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention ahead of his headlining speech slated for later opening night.

Key Facts

Harris, making a surprise appearance, told the crowd “this November we will come together and declare with one voice as one people, we are moving forward,” after thanking Biden for his “historic leadership” and “lifetime of service.”

Biden “has been democracy’s champion at home and abroad,” Clinton said, crediting him with bringing “dignity, decency and confidence back to the White House,” and thanking him for a “lifetime of service and leadership.”

Clinton also lauded Harris, drawing parallels between the time they spent during their legal careers “helping children who were abused and neglected,” telling the crowd Harris will “never rest in defense of our freedom and safety.”

Clinton frequently blasted former President Donald Trump, drawing contrasts between him and Harris, accusing him of “lying about Kamala’s record . . . mocking her name and her laugh,” Clinton said, adding “we have him on the run now,” referring to Harris’ lead in polls.

As Clinton talked about the ex-president, audible chants of “lock him up” broke out among convention attendees, mocking chants of “lock her up” commonly heard at Trump rallies when he was running against her in 2016.

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., who took the stage after Clinton, also spent much of his speech assailing Trump, whom Clyburn said has been “looking out for himself and his billionaire buddies” while “Kamala has been fighting to lower costs for all Americans.”

Clyburn additionally attacked the widely criticized Project 2025 blueprint for a potential second Trump term that some of Trump’s former staffers helped draft, calling it “Jim Crow 2.0.”

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris commemorated President Joe Biden’s legacy Monday on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention ahead of his headlining speech slated for later opening night.