United States Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination for President on Thursday night, delivering a powerful speech at the Chicago convention that highlighted her commitment to ending the war in Gaza and fighting global tyranny.
Addressing the crowd at the United Center, Harris, 59, drew a stark contrast between her vision and that of Republican challenger Donald Trump, accusing him of aligning with dictators. “In the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand and I know where the United States belongs,” Harris declared.
Harris emerged as the Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race earlier this month. Her speech, characterized by its forceful tone and broad policy principles, marked a significant moment in her campaign, which has been under scrutiny for its clarity and effectiveness.
Despite facing criticism and protests from Palestinian supporters for the lack of representation at the convention, Harris pledged to secure Israel, achieve a hostage deal from Gaza, and end the ongoing conflict. She emphasized, “What has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating,” and committed to working towards both Israeli security and Palestinian self-determination.
Harris also addressed key foreign policy issues, vowing to take necessary actions to defend U.S. interests against Iran, support Ukraine against Russia, and stand with NATO allies. She criticized Trump for his foreign policy approach and warned of the dangers of a Trump presidency with “no guard rails.”
If successful in the November 5 election, Harris would make history as the first female U.S. President. Her speech underscored her plans for domestic policy, including a middle-class tax cut, abortion rights protections, and measures to address price gouging by grocers. Her campaign has proposed raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%.
The convention concluded with a celebratory display of 100,000 balloons cascading over the crowd. Harris, who has raised a record-breaking $500 million in a month, is currently leading or closely contesting Trump in many battleground state polls, with a national lead of 46.6% to 43.8%.
