The vice president is officially running against former President Donald Trump in the November election. But certain points in his program are still vague.
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She will “pave a new path” of unit. Kamala Harris accepted Thursday, August 23 in Chicago (USA), the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidential election in November, which will pit her against Donald Trump. “I promise to be president of all Americans”launched the 59-year-old vice president to deafening ovations from thousands of delegates in a speech that lasted less than 40 minutes. In a speech full of authority, often solemn, Kamala Harris sometimes took on patriotic overtones. Here’s what to remember from his speech.
A call for unity
Kamala Harris made sure to appear ready to rule the country. “In the eternal struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand, and I know where the United States must stand.”she said. She spoke at length about her late mother, who left India at the age of 19 to pursue her dream of becoming a scientist. The candidate presented her as a model of high standards and spoke of the discrimination she saw her face and claimed to have learned from her “never [se] complain about injustice, but act against it”.
“On behalf of all Americans, regardless of party, race, gender (…) On behalf of all those whose history can only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to be President of the United States.”launched the candidate in an attempt to mark her difference with Donald Trump.
Attack on Donald Trump
“We know what another Trump term would look like. It’s all written in Project 2025,” she declared, referring to an ultra-conservative program created by relatives of the billionaire whose purpose, according to her, is to “Take our country back years”. “Unlike Trump, I don’t want to be friends with dictators”she added.
The vice president also mentioned the attack on the Washington Capitol on January 6, 2021. “Donald Trump is a man who lacks seriousnessshe emphasized. But the consequences of returning Donald Trump to the White House would be extremely serious.” The vice president repeated one of her campaign slogans, “We’re not going back.”
A call for a ceasefire in Gaza
On the sidelines of the democratic celebrations, pro-Palestinian demonstrations were held throughout the week in Chicago to denounce American support for the war Israel was waging in Gaza. A few thousand people were still gathered Thursday. Kamala Harris promised it “exit” a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. “President Biden and I are working day and night […] because it is time to reach an agreement on the release of the hostages and a ceasefire”she said.
“So many innocent lives have been lost. Desperate and hungry people are constantly fleeing for safety.she said. At the same time as we ensure that we continue with “Always support Israel”she also defended “self-determination” Palestinians.
The ambiguity remains on the candidate’s program
Kamala Harris did not use her speech to detail her programmatic proposals, but returned to certain points already known from her economic program, presented on Friday, August 16. The candidate promised to reduce the cost of “everyday needs”including expenses for health, accommodation and food. She also returned the right to abortion, which is no longer guaranteed since a historic decision by the Supreme Court in 2023. “America cannot be truly prosperous without Americans being allowed to make decisions that affect their own lives.”she said. If Kamala Harris explained that the United States was ready to “forward” and promised to help “middle class”she didn’t give many details on how to get there.
A reform of the immigration system
The candidate raised one of the most explosive issues of the presidential campaign. “I know we can live up to our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants and reform our broken immigration system,” she declared. She promised to issue a bill that had bipartisan support, but which she blames her Republican rival for failing. “I refuse to play politics with our safety”she announced again.