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Kamala Harris has released her first presidential campaign ad, the morning after President Joe Biden said he decided to “pass the torch to a new generation” for the sake of democracy and to “unite our nation” in his first speech since dropping out of the 2024 race.
In a reflective address to the nation on Wednesday night, the president said he still believes he should seek a second term but that “personal ambition” cannot stand in the way of democracy.
“I revere this office, but I love my country more,” he said. “It’s been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it’s more important than any title.”
During his remarks, Biden praised Vice President Harris and – though not mentioning Donald Trump by name – warned the US is at an “inflection point” headed into the election.
Harris has hit the campaign trail, speaking at a sorority national convention in Indianapolis and today at a teachers convention in Houston.
Meanwhile, backlash continues to mount against JD Vance after a 2021 video of him branding Harris and other women “childless cat ladies” resurfaced.
Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife Kerstin Emhoff and Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston have weighed in.
Key Points
- ‘We choose freedom’: Kamala Harris launches first presidential campaign ad
- Biden says he’s passing the torch to Harris ‘in defense of democracy'
- Tearful Biden family members including Ashley, Hunter, Jill and Finnegan join president for address
- Piers Morgan and Van Jones react to Biden’s speech
- Biden’s speech transcript: Read address to the nation in full
- Kamala Harris attacks Donald Trump in first campaign rally in Wisconsin
Watch: Six Democrats join Republicans in condemning Biden-Harris administration handling of border
Oliver O'Connell25 July 2024 16:20 1721919966Kamala Harris condemns ‘unpatriotic protesters’ and ‘hate-fueled rhetoric’ at DC Netanyahu protests
Statement by Vice President Kamala Harris
Yesterday, at Union Station in Washington, DC we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric.
I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation.
I condemn the burning of the American flag. That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way.
I support the right to peacefully protest, but let’s be clear: Antisemitism, hate and violence of any kind have no place in our nation.
Oliver O'Connell25 July 2024 16:06 1721919677Watch LIVE: Kamala Harris addresses teachers after landmark first union endorsement
Watch live as Kamala Harris delivers the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention in Houston, Texas, on Thursday (25 July).
The vice president is propelling her presidential push by speaking to the first labor union to formally endorse her candidacy.
It comes after Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed Ms Harris at the top of the party ticket.
AFT, which has 1.8 million members, has backed Ms Harris and her pro-union agenda on the premise that a second Donald Trump term could result in restrictions on organized labor and a potential loss of funding for education.
The AFL-CIO, which represents 60 labor unions including the AFT, has backed Ms Harris.
Watch live: Kamala Harris addresses teachers after landmark first union endorsement
Watch live as Kamala Harris delivers the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention in Houston, Texas, on Thursday (25 July).
Oliver O'Connell25 July 2024 16:01 1721916925Biden’s address to nation as ‘like meeting for coffee after a break-up’, says Fallon
Jimmy Fallon has likened President Joe Biden’s address to the nation explaining his exit from the 2024 race to an awkward meet-up after a break-up.
OnThe Tonight Show, Fallon discussed Biden’s announcement on Sunday – where he said he was dropping his reelection bid and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris – followed by his first public comments about his decision in a speech on Wednesday night.
Amelia Neath has the story.
Jimmy Fallon describes Biden’s speech as ‘like meeting for coffee after a break-up’
‘Basically, on Sunday, he broke up with the country over text, and tonight, he met us for coffee to explain,’ Fallon quipped
Oliver O'Connell25 July 2024 15:15 1721915425Biden hails ‘robust’ economic growth in second quarter
Statement from President Joe Biden on Second Quarter 2024 GDP
When I took office, we were in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Today’s GDP report makes clear we now have the strongest economy in the world. Thanks to my and Vice President Harris’s economic agenda, our economy grew a robust 2.8% over the last quarter, based on strong American consumers and business investment. We’ve created nearly 16 million jobs, wages are up, and inflation is coming down. We’re rebuilding the Nation and bringing manufacturing back to America.\
But we have more to do. Over the next six months, I will continue doing my job as President: lowering costs for hardworking families and growing our economy. Congressional Republicans have a different plan—which would drag our country backward by putting special interests first. The Vice President and I will keep fighting for America’s future—a future of promise and possibilities, of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things.
Oliver O'Connell25 July 2024 14:50 1721914498‘We choose freedom’: Kamala Harris launches first presidential campaign ad
Kamala Harris has launched her first official campaign video as she vies to officially secure the Democratic presidential nomination and defeat Donald Trump – just days after Joe Biden announced he was abandoning his reelection bid.
The 59-year-old vice president’s campaign team released the clip across her social media channels on Thursday morning, touching on key messages of abortion rights, tackling gun violence and LGBT+ rights – as well as preventing the “chaos” of a second Trump term.
James Liddell reports.
Kamala Harris launches first presidential campaign ad: ‘We choose freedom’
Vice president’s video tackles controversial themes including abortion and gun violence, to the backdrop of her campaign anthem: Beyoncé’s Freedom
Oliver O'Connell25 July 2024 14:34 1721912400ICYMI: Biden defends passing the torch to Harris as he gives first speech since dropping out of race
President Joe Biden told Americans he chose to drop out of the 2024 presidential race in order to unite the nation.
“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said Wednesday in his first official address to the nation since announcing his campaign withdrawal. “That is the best way to unite our nation.”
More details in our full story.
Biden defends passing the torch to Harris in first speech since dropping out of race
President Joe Biden warned Americans about the future of democracy in November
Josh Marcus25 July 2024 14:00 1721911211VOICES: Biden’s farewell speech was all about America choosing between democracy – and a dictator
For all its historical significance, President Joe Biden’s address to the nation last night regarding his decision not to stand in this year’s presidential election held no real surprises – but that’s no bad thing. His official “farewell” has been a long time coming and was much needed – for Biden himself, as well as the US.
Sitting behind the desk of the Oval Office, the president placed himself squarely in that historical context by quoting other great Americans. He reminded us that “George Washington showed us that presidents are not kings” – a none-too-subtle jab at Trump, who has previously said that he plans to be a dictator on “day one” of his next term in office.
In fact, the entire address was one long, fairly obvious jab at Biden’s boisterous, tangerine forebear/potential successor: “America is at an inflection point”, he said, and must choose whether it is to “move forwards or backwards”.
Ryan Coogan writes:
Biden’s farewell speech was about America choosing between democracy – and a dictator
‘America is at an inflection point’, Biden said – and must choose whether it is to ‘move forwards or backwards’. It’s clear who he was really talking about
Rachel Sharp25 July 2024 13:40 1721910000Prepare to hear a lot more about immigration now that Harris is at top of the ticket
Former president Donald Trump and his Republican allies are planning to go all-in on attacking Vice President Kamala Harris on immigration as she becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
Harris has seen overwhelming support from Democratic elected officials, activists and labor leaders after President Joe Biden announced he would not see re-election and endorsed her.
But the Trump campaign has sought to hit Harris for her record and tie her to Biden’s immigration policies, which polling showed voters overwhelmingly trust Trump to handle more than Democrats. Specifically, Trump has pointed to the fact that Biden gave Harris the task of handling the influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border early in his presidency.
Eric Garcia and Andrew Feinberg report.
Trump and Republicans prepare to attack Harris on the border and immigration
Trump’s pollster talks about the ‘Harris Honeymoon’ and how they expect a bump in the vice president’s numbers
Josh Marcus25 July 2024 13:20 1721908811‘He fell on his sword’: Democrats, Republicans and media figures react to Biden’s address to nation
Democrats, Republicans and talking heads have lead reaction to President Joe Biden’s address to the nation on Wednesday night, with supporters saying he “fell on his sword” while critics blasted it as “barely understandable”.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Biden explained his rationale behind withdrawing from the 2024 election, saying that he decided to “pass the torch to a new generation” because he cannot let his “personal ambition” stand in the way of democracy.
Biden also thanked Kamala Harris, whom he endorsed on Sunday to replace him on top of the Democratic party ticket.
Harris was among those who praised Biden and thanked him for his five-decade long service to the American people following his speech.
“President @JoeBiden has profound compassion for the people of our country. We are all deeply, deeply grateful for his service to our nation. Thank you, Mr. President,” she wrote on X.
Read the full story:
‘He fell on his sword’: Reaction to Biden’s address to nation
While most Democrats praised Biden for the speech, Rep Jared Moskowitz said Biden ‘didn’t look as good or sound as good’ despite saying it was ‘one of the best speeches he has given’
Oliver O'Connell25 July 2024 13:00 Newer1 / 9OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
