Biden DNC speech live updates: Joe Biden passes the torch to Kamala Harris on Day 1 of Democratic convention

Joe Biden took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris to rapturous applause on Monday night.

The president, who was introduced by First Lady Jill Biden and his daughter Ashley Biden, ran through his accomplishments on the Covid recovery, the economy, healthcare, and infrastructure before making a forceful case against the candidacy of former President Donald Trump.

“Let me ask you, are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” Biden asked the crowd.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton returned to the DNC eight years after she was the nominee in 2016.

Clinton said, “My friends, when a barrier falls for one of us, it falls and clears the way for all of us. So for the next 78 days, we need to work harder than we ever have.”

Harris made a surprise appearance at the convention ahead of Biden’s speech.

“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you,” she said.

Key Points

• Biden runs through accomplishments during fiery DNC speech

• AOC and Hillary Clinton lead the new and old guard of Democratic women on first night of DNC for Harris

• Team USA men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr channels Steph Curry at DNC: ‘Tell Donald Trump night night’

• Ella Emhoff appears at DNC in Harris-Walz camo hat in support of stepmom

• Kamala Harris makes surprise appearance on first night of DNC: ‘We are moving forward’

McMorrow brings copy of Project 2025 out on stage

01:44 , Gustaf Kilander

VIDEO: Chicago police confirm multiple protesters arrested for breaching fence outside of DNC

01:45 , Reann Philogene

Tim Walz attends first night of Democratic convention

01:54 , Gustaf Kilander

Democratic vice presidential nominee Governor Tim Walz has appeared in the United Center in Chicago for the first night of the Democratic National Convention ahead of President Joe Biden’s speech tonight.

In Pictures: Democrats gather for their convention

02:00 , Gustaf Kilander

California senator slams Trump for ‘shattering’ legal boundaries

02:07 , Gustaf Kilander

Progress ‘possible but not guaranteed,’ Hillary Clinton set to say in DNC remarks

02:10 , Gustaf Kilander

Some excerpts from Hillary Clinton’s speech have been released:

Hillary Clinton

Walz speaks to press in convention center

02:13 , Gustaf Kilander

VIDEO: Kamala Harris makes surprise appearance on stage at DNC

02:20 , Gustaf Kilander

Kamala Harris celebrated President Joe Biden during a surprise appearance on the stage of the DNC on Monday night.

“Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you,” Harris said on stage.

In Pictures: Harris makes surprise appearance at DNC

02:23 , Gustaf Kilander

'Coach to coach, that guy's awesome'

02:27 , Gustaf Kilander

The coach of the Golden State Warriors and the US national basketball team, Steve Kerr, praised Tim Walz during his remarks on Monday night.

“Coach to coach, that guy’s awesome,” he said.

Kerr went on to say that leaders have to show “dignity” and have to “tell the truth.”

“I believe that leaders should be able to laugh at themselves. I believe leaders must care for and love the people they are leading,” he added. “I believe leaders must possess knowledge but with full awareness that none of us has all the answers.”“With Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, I see all of those qualities,” he argued.

UAW president slams Trump and Vance as ‘lapdogs for the billionaire class’

02:32 , Gustaf Kilander

UAW President Shawn Fain slammed Donald Trump and JD Vance as “lapdogs for the billionaire class” on Monday night.

“On one side we have Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with the working class,” he said. “On the other side, we have Trump and Vance – two lapdogs for the billionaire class who only serve themselves.”

“So for us in the labor movement, it's real simple. Kamala Harris is one of us, she's a fighter for the working class, and Donald Trump is a scab,” he added.

Harris’s stepchildren attends first night of DNC

02:41 , Gustaf Kilander

Kamala Harris’s stepchildren Ella and Cole Emhoff appeared in stands at the Democratic Convention, as did Tim Walz’s children Hope and Gus.

Ella was seen wearing the viral camo hat sold by the Harris-Walz campaign.

Kamala Harris makes surprise appearance at first night of DNC: ‘We are moving forward’

02:43 , Alex Woodward

Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention on Monday, stepping out to the sounds of Beyonce’s “Freedom” and thanking President Joe Biden before his remarks to close out the first night of the week-long event in Chicago.

“This is going to be a great week, I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president Joe Biden,” she said in brief remarks.

“Thank you for your historic leadership, for our lifetime of service to our nation, for all you continue to do. We are forever grateful to you, said Harris, who was not on Monday’s schedule of speakers.

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Kamala Harris makes surprise appearance at DNC: ‘We are moving forward’

VIDEO: Steve Kerr tells Trump ‘night night’, quoting Steph Curry in DNC speech

02:48 , Reann Philogene

AOC: ‘Trump would sell this country for a dollar'

02:49 , Gustaf Kilander

Hillary Clinton takes the stage at the DNC eight years after she was the nominee

02:59 , Gustaf Kilander

Hillary Clinton took to the stage at the DNC eight years after she was the Democratic nominee going into the 2016 election.

“My mother, Dorothy, was born right here in Chicago before women had the right to vote. That changed 104 years ago yesterday,” she said.

VIDEO: Shawn Fain has a Hulk Hogan moment during speech at DNC opening night

03:00 , Reann Philogene

Clinton mocks Trump: ‘Made his own kind of history'

03:03 , Gustaf Kilander

Hillary Clinton slammed her 2016 opponent, former President Donald Trump, saying “Kamala locked up murderers and drug traffickers. She will never rest in defense of our freedom and safety.”

“Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made his own kind of history, the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions,” she added.

VIDEO: AOC gives fiery speech in support of Kamala Harris

03:06 , Gustaf Kilander

Clinton urges Democrats to fight for the next 78 days

03:10 , Gustaf Kilander

Clinton urged her fellow Democrats to fight for the next 78 days to win the election on November fifth.

In a fiery speech, Clinton said, “My friends, when a barrier falls for one of us, it falls and clears the way for all of us. So for the next 78 days, we need to work harder than we ever have.”

She added: “We need to beat back the dangers that Trump and his allies pose to the rule of law and our way of life. Don't get distracted or complacent. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Volunteer, be proud champions for the truth and for the country that we all love.”

‘Lock him up'

03:15 , Alex Woodward

After she’s been the subject of “lock her up” chants at Trump rallies for years, Hillary is now on stage hearing “lock him up” chants about her former rival, after she pointed out that he fell asleep at his criminal trial in Manhattan and made history as the first presidential candidate to run with 34 felony convictions.

Hillary Clinton warns Democrats that progress isn’t guaranteed as Harris aims to break glass ceiling she missed in 2024

03:18 , John Bowden

Hillary Clinton fired up the crowd on night one of the Democratic National Convention on Monday and urged her party not to give up the goal of shattering one of America’s last glass ceilings: the election of a woman to the presidency.

The party’s 2016 nominee was greeted by a standing ovation and one of the loudest cheers of the evening as she took the stage. In her remarks, she invoked female trailblazing politicians Geraldine Ferraro and Shirley Chisolm as well as Harris’s mother — as well as her own, both of whom Clinton said she wished could see this moment.

Calling the acceptance of the Democratic nomination on the DNC stage in 2020 the “greatest honor of [her] life”, the former secretary of State went on to celebrate her performance in the election that year as a mark of progress in American history, even given her defeat to Donald Trump.

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Hillary Clinton warns DNC progress isn’t guaranteed as Harris aims at glass ceiling

Clyburn calls Project 2025 ‘Jim Crow 2.0'

03:22 , Gustaf Kilander

South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn referred to Project 2025 as “Jim Crow 2.0” during his speech at the DNC.

“Trump falsely pleads ignorance of project 2025 which, in my opinion, is Jim Crow 2.0,” Clyburn said.

Raskin slams Trump for January 6 insurrection

03:25 , Gustaf Kilander

Rep Jamie Raskin said on the DNC stage that former Vice President Mike Pence is the first former running mate not to endorse the president he served with for more than two centuries.

“Someone should have told Donald Trump that the President's job under Article Two of the Constitution is to take care that the laws are faithfully executed, not that the Vice President is executed,” he said in reference to the January 6, 2021 insurrection.

“Pence has now joined more than two dozen officials from Donald Trump's own administration in denouncing him – a historical record and Pence is the first vice president in more than two centuries not to support the president he served with in a general election,” he added.

Jasmine Crockett wants to prove that Democrats aren’t weak

03:29 , Eric Garcia

Jasmine Crockett wants to prove that Democrats aren’t weak

‘She’s lived the American dream while he’s been America’s nightmare'

03:34 , Gustaf Kilander

Rep Jasmine Crockett roasted Donald Trump during her appearance at the DNC.

Here are some of her lines:

“She's lived the American dream while he's been America's nightmare.”

“Kamala Harris has a resume. Donald Trump has a rap sheet.”

“She presides over the Senate while he keeps our national secrets next to his thinking chair.”

“Donald Trump wants to put our 1787 Constitution through his project 2025 paper shredder.”

‘Hitting Republicans with a dose of their own medicine'

03:39 , Gustaf Kilander

Referencing her “Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Body” attack against Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep Jasmine Crockett recalled that she “went viral for the first of many times to come for hitting Republicans with a dose of their own medicine.”

“That brief but impactful interaction gave me my legislative legs and I've been running ever since,” she added. “The question before us is, will a vindictive, vile villain violate voters' vision for a better America or not – I hear alliterations are back in style.”

03:46 , Gustaf Kilander

Amanda and Josh Zurawski of Texas told their abortion story on stage at the DNC.

“When you're expecting a baby, packing for the hospital should be a joyful moment. For us, it was different. We were told with 100 percent certainty we would lose our baby girl, Willow and we were sent home for three days. We waited until Amanda was sick enough to receive standard abortion care,” Josh said.

‘Two emergency rooms sent me away because of Louisiana’s abortion ban'

03:48 , Gustaf Kilander

Kaitlyn Joshua of Louisiana told the convention, “Two years ago, my husband and I were expecting our second child.”

“Our daughter, Lauren, couldn't wait to be a big sister,” she added. “I was getting ready for her fourth birthday party when something didn't feel right. Two emergency rooms sent me away because of Louisiana's abortion ban.”

Abortion advocate tells story of rape at the age of 12

03:50 , Gustaf Kilander

Hadley Duvall of Kentucky told the convention that she was raped by her stepfather at the age of 12 after “years of sexual abuse.”

“I took my first pregnancy test and it was positive. That was the first time I was ever told you have options,” she told the crowd. “I can't imagine not having a choice. But today, that's the reality for many women and girls across the country because of Donald Trump's abortion bans.”

03:51 , Alex Woodward

In May, after harrowing courtroom testimonies and a protracted legal battle, the Texas Supreme Court rejected a challenge from Amanda Zurawski and other abortion patients whose health and lives were endangered after state law denied the emergency abortion care they desperately needed.

Since launching the legal challenge, Zurawski has led a campaign for abortion rights and voiced support for the Biden administration and Kamala Harris’s campaign.

Texas Supreme Court rejects challenge from women denied abortion during emergencies

Beshear reaches out across the aisle

03:53 , Gustaf Kilander

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear told the convention that “How we treat people transcends party lines. It goes right to the heart of who we are.”

“My faith teaches me the golden rule that I am to love my neighbor as myself. In the parable, The Good Samaritan, it says we are all each other's neighbors. So I want anyone watching tonight, Republican, Independent, Democrat, to know that you are welcome here,” he added.

Warnock calls on Democrats to unify as he slams Trump

03:56 , Gustaf Kilander

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock told the DNC that a “vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children and our prayers are stronger when we pray together.”

“Together, we flipped the Senate, held the house, and we sent Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House,” he added. “Together, we vaccinated our citizens, we fortified our cities and our towns, and we stood by our small businesses. Together, we set out to heal the land, a nation besieged by a deadly pandemic and beset by the awful and divisive rhetoric of a man too small for the office entrusted to him.”

‘America, we’re going to win'

04:05 , Gustaf Kilander

‘Donald Trump is a plague on the American conscience'

04:06 , Gustaf Kilander

‘Joe Biden helped us get back up again'

04:10 , Gustaf Kilander

Delaware Senator Chris Coons took to the stage at the DNC to praise his longtime friend, President Joe Biden.

“Joe Biden's mom had a saying, ‘You are defined by your courage, and you are redeemed by your loyalty’,” he began. “Four years ago, I had the honor of helping introduce Joe Biden to our national convention, I spoke about Joe's faith, his love of family, his determination to restore the soul of our nation.

“Back in 2020 America was nearly flat on our back from a deadly pandemic, an economic collapse, and then in January, an assault on our democracy, all of this because the drama and chaos of our former president have knocked us down.

“But folks, Joe Biden's courage, Joe Biden's faith in us, Joe Biden's determination to heal the soul of our nation gave us hope and gave us confidence. Someone who has himself been knocked down by life time and again, Joe Biden knows the grit and determination of the American people. He believed in us. Joe Biden helped us get back up again.”

First lady recalls moment she saw Biden ‘dig deep’ and decide to drop out

04:18 , Gustaf Kilander

First Lady Jill Biden started her remarks by noting that she has been married to President Joe Biden for almost half a century.

“There are moments when I fall in love with him all over again,” she said.

She went on to praise him for “all he's accomplished in the name of something bigger than himself.”

“Weeks ago ... I saw him dig deep into his soul and decide to no longer seek reelection and endorse Kamala Harris,” she added.

Who are Joe Biden’s children? Ashley Biden set to introduce her father at the DNC

04:21 , Oliver O’Connell, Ariana Baio

President Joe Biden has fathered four children from two marriages — though only two of his children are still alive today.

Biden had three children with his first wife, Neilia Biden, whom he married in 1966. In order of birth, they were Joseph Robinette III, known as Beau; Robert Hunter; and Naomi Christina, known as Amy.

On December 18, 1972, Neilia was driving with the three children to buy a Christmas tree when their car was hit by a tractor-trailer. Both Neilia and Naomi Biden were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Naomi was just over a year old at the time.

The two boys survived but with serious injuries. Less than a month later, Mr Biden was sworn into the Senate on January 3, 1973 at the hospital where his sons were recovering.

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Who are Joe Biden’s children? Ashley Biden set to introduce her father at the DNC

‘The original girl dad'

04:25 , Gustaf Kilander

Ashley Biden introduced her father at the DNC on Monday night, calling him the “original girl dad.”

She told the DNC the story of her eighth birthday when he rode the Amtrak from DC just to sing happy birthday to his daughter before going back to Washington.

“When I look at Dad, I see grace, strength, and humility. I see one of the most consequential leaders ever in history,” she said.

‘My kids keep me humble'

04:35 , Gustaf Kilander

‘You can’t say you love your country only when you win,’ Biden says

04:40 , Gustaf Kilander

President Joe Biden referenced the January 6 insurrection in his speech at the Democratic Convention on Monday night.

“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 I swore an oath to you and to God, to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and to faithfully execute the office of the president United States,” Biden said. “In front of me was the city surrounded by the National Guard. Behind me, a capital that two weeks before [was overrun] by a violent mob. But I knew then, from the bottom of my heart ... there is no place in America for political violence.”

“You cannot say you love your country only when you win,” he added.

‘Democracy has prevailed. And now democracy must be preserved.’

04:41 , Gustaf Kilander

Biden runs through accomplishments during fiery DNC speech

04:48 , Gustaf Kilander

Biden ran through a number of his accomplishments during his speech at the DNC.

“Covid no longer controls our lives. We got from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the entire world,” the president said. “Record 16 million new jobs, record small business growth, record high stock market, record high 401Ks, wages up, and inflation down.”

“The smallest racial wealth gap in 20 years. And yes, we both know we have more to do, but we're moving in the right direction ... More Americans have health insurance today than ever before in American history,” he added.

“After, as a young senator, beginning to fight for 50 years to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, we finally beat Big Pharma,” he shouted.

‘I’m proud to have been the first president to walk a picket line'

04:54 , Gustaf Kilander

AOC and Hillary Clinton lead the new and old guard of Democratic women on first night of DNC for Harris

05:02 , Eric Garcia, John Bowden

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton represented the old and new guard of Democratic women to push for Kamala Harris on the first night of the party’s convention as the vice president seeks to become the first female president.

The dual speeches showed an effort to unite the party’s establishment with its progressive insurgent wing.

Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat and self-proclaimed democratic socialist, received ovation after ovation and chants of her initials “AOC” as she praised President Joe Biden, Harris, and her running mate Tim Walz of Minnesota as she lambasted former president Donald Trump.

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AOC and Hillary Clinton set the stage for Harris on day 1 of DNC

VIDEO: ‘Democracy has prevailed’, Joe Biden says in DNC speech

05:06 , Gustaf Kilander

Convention officials comment on reason for delays

05:08 , Andrew Feinberg

DNC officials

Team USA men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr channels Steph Curry at DNC: ‘Tell Donald Trump night night’

05:12 , Mike Bedigan

Legendary basketball coach Steve Kerr channeled star NBA player Steph Curry onstage at the Democratic National Convention, telling crowds that in November, “we can tell Donald Trump ‘night night’.”

Fresh from his return from the 2024 Paris Olympics – where Team USA won gold in both the men’s and women’s basketball – Kerr heaped praise on Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz “coach to coach,” and joked about the governor’s history as a high school football coach.

Kerr, who is also head coach for the Golden State Warriors, took to the stage Monday night to chants of “USA, USA, USA!”

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Team USA men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr channels Steph Curry on DNC stage

Ella Emhoff appears at DNC in Harris-Walz camo hat in support of stepmom

05:14 , Mike Bedigan

Ella Emhoff appeared at the Democratic National Convention to support her stepmom Kamala Harris, wearing the popular “midwest princess” camouflage baseball cap.

The 25-year-old appeared alongside her father, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, on Monday night wearing the camouflage hat, which reads “Harris-Walz” in bright orange lettering.

The item was seemingly inspired by singer Chappell Roan and reached nearly $1m in sales in 24 hours after it was first made available to buy online by Harris-Walz campaign.

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Ella Emhoff appears at DNC in camo hat in support of stepmom Kamala Harris

‘It’s been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your president'

05:16 , Gustaf Kilander

‘He is the OG girl dad’: Ashley and Jill Biden pay tribute to Joe

06:00 , John Bowden

Joe Biden officially passed the torch to Kamala Harris, his vice president, on Monday at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) after a pair of glowing speeches about who he was as a family man from two people who know him best: his wife and daughter.

Ashley and first lady Dr Jill Biden spoke directly ahead of the 46th president in Chicago, and spoke about how he led their family through dark times — the same way, they said, he had led the Democratic Party and the nation.

The first lady, in particular, pointed to her husband’s decision to step down as their party’s 2024 nominee as a moment when she fell in love with him again.

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‘He is the OG girl dad’: Ashley and Jill Biden pay tribute to Joe

Democracy is on the line in November, Biden says

07:00 , Gustaf Kilander

VIDEO: Democrats chant 'lock him up' during Hillary Clinton DNC speech

08:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Biden begins long goodbye to half century in politics as he rallies Democrats around Harris in rousing speech

09:00 , Andrew Feinberg, Alex Woodward

President Joe Biden was supposed to spend the evening watching the start of a convention built around propelling him to four more years in the White House.

Instead, an animated crowd inside Chicago’s United Center poured out their gratitude at the president’s decision to stand aside and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris with an emotional address celebrating his accomplishments.

In remarks that revisited many of his campaign themes, as Harris looked on from a box in the crowd alongside her running mate Tim Walz, Biden told the Democratic National Convention that despite the antidemocratic threats that inspired his 2020 presidential run, “democracy has prevailed” and “democracy has delivered.”

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Joe Biden begins his long goodbye to politics as he rallies Democrats around Harris