Biden issued several sharp criticisms of Trump on a variety of issues
I ran for president because of what I saw in Charlottesville: President Biden
President Biden details why the events in Charlottesville inspired him to run for the 2020 presidential election during speech at the Democratic National Convention.
CHICAGO - President Biden delivered his highly anticipated address to the Democratic National Convention late Monday night and touched on a variety of subjects including strong criticisms of former President Trump and the conflict between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization in control of Gaza.
"Those, those protesters out in the street, they have a point," Biden told the crowd in the United Center after anti-Israel protesters marched on the convention calling for an end to the U.S. support of Israel. "A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides."
"We're working around the clock," Biden said. "To end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, finally deliver a ceasefire and end this war."
"We're working around the clock. My Secretary of State, to prevent a wider war and reunite hostage to their families and surge humanitarian, health and food assistance into Gaza. Now. To end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, finally deliver a cease-fire and end this war."
U.S. President Joe Biden attends Day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
In the same speech, Biden repeated the claim that Trump said there were "fine people" on "both sides" of the 2017 Charlottesville protest which has been debunked by several fact checkers.
Criticizing Trump was a major theme in Biden's speech, which did not conclude until after midnight on the East Coast.
"I never thought I'd stand before a crowd of Democrats and refer to a president who's a liar so many times," Biden said. "Now, I'm not trying to be funny. It's sad."
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U.S. President Joe Biden stands onstage during Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
Biden also hit Trump on abortion and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, warning that Trump "is going to find out the power of women in 2024."
"Now, where Trump is MAGA Republican, right-wingers seek to erase history," Biden said. "We Democrats continue to write history and make more history. I'm proud. I'm proud to have kept my commitment to appoint the first black woman in the United States Supreme Court. Ketanji Brown Jackson. A symbol for every young woman in America that you can do anything."
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Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attends Day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
Biden also renewed the allegation that Trump called military members who had died in battle "suckers" and "losers", which Trump and sources present at the time have said did not occur.
"There's no words for a person, they're not the words a person not worthy of being commander in chief," Biden said. "Period. Not then, not now, and not ever. I mean that I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Just as no commander chief should ever bow down to a dictator, the way Trump bowed down to Putin, I never have. And I promise you, Kamala Harris will never do it, will never bow down."
Praising Harris was another theme in the speech which Biden did several times.
'Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made before I became when I became our nominee, and it was the best decision I made my whole career," Biden said.
"We've not only gotten to know each other, we've become close friends. She's tough, she's experienced, and she has enormous integrity, enormous integrity. Her story represents the best American story."
Biden, who appeared to shed a tear after walking out on stage following an introduction from his daughter Ashley, said Harris will be "a president we can all be proud of" before mentioning the Capitol Hill riots on January 6th.
"This will be the first presidential election since January 6th," Biden said. "On that day, we almost lost everything about who we are as a country and that threat. This is not hyperbole. That threat is still very much alive."
"Donald Trump says he will refuse to accept the election result if he loses again. Think about that. He means it. Think about that. He's probably seeing a bloodbath if he loses. In his words, and that he'll be a dictator on day one. In his own words, by the way, this sucker means it. No, I'm not joking. Think about it."
Biden told his supporters that the "power" is "literally" in your hands.
"History is in your hands, not hyperbole," Biden said. "It's in your hands. America's future is in your hands. And because of this, nowhere else in the world could a kid with a stutter and modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania and Claymont, Delaware grow up to sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office."
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to
