Presidential Hopeful Kamala Harris Calls Trump An 'Unserious Man,' Says We Are In A 'Fight For America's Future' In DNC Keynote — Watch Video
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially accepted the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
In a 40-minute speech delivered on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Harris detailed her vision for America's future — and took a few not-so-subtle jabs at Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump — in front of a packed house at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.
"As a prosecutor, when I had a case, I charged it — not in the name of the victim, but in the name of the people for a simple reason: In our system of justice, a harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us," she said. "And I would often explain this to console survivors of crime, to remind them, no one should be made to fight alone. We are all in this together. And every day in the courtroom, I stood proudly before a judge, and I said five words: Kamala Harris for the people.
"To be clear, my entire career, I've only had one client: the people," Harris declared. "And so, on behalf of the people... on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks... on behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey... on behalf of Americans, like the people I grew up with, people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another... on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination to be President of the United States of America."
With this election, Harris said, our nation "has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism, bitterness and divisive battles of the past," she posited. "A chance to chart a new way forward — not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans. And let me say: I know there are people of various political views watching tonight, and I want you to know that I promise to be a president for all Americans. You can always trust me to put country above party and self, to hold sacred America's fundamental principles — from the rule of law, to free and fair elections, to the peaceful transfer of power. I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations, a president who leads and listens, who is realistic, practical and has common sense, and always fights for the American people from the courthouse to the White House."
Harris proclaimed that we are in "a fight for America's future." This November will not just mark "the most important of our lives," but "one of the most important in the life of our nation." She then went after Trump, calling her opponent an "unserious man."
"Consider not only the chaos and calamity when he was in office, but also the gravity of what has happened since he lost the last election," she said. "Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes when he failed, he sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol, where they assaulted law enforcement officers. When politicians in his own party begged him to call off the mob and send help, he did the opposite. He fanned the flames. And now for an entirely different set of crimes, he was found guilty of fraud by a jury of everyday Americans, and separately found liable for committing sexual abuse. And consider what he intends to do if we give him power again. Consider his explicit intent to set free violent extremists who assaulted those law enforcement officers at the Capitol... his explicit intent to jail journalists, political opponents and anyone he sees as the enemy... his explicit intent to deploy our active duty military against our own citizens... consider the power he will have, especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution. Just imagine Donald Trump with no guard rails, and how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States — not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had: himself."
After calling out Project 2025 and the greater Trump agenda, Harris revealed her plans for the presidency. "We are charting a new way forward," she said. "Forward to a future with a strong and growing middle class.... As President, I will bring together labor and workers and small business owners and entrepreneurs and American companies to create jobs to grow our economy and to lower the cost of everyday needs like health care and housing and groceries. We will provide access to capital for small business owners and entrepreneurs and founders, and we will end America's housing shortage and protect Social Security and Medicare."
Harris also promised to sign into law a bill to restore reproductive freedom, to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and bring back the bipartisan border security bill. And in the lead-up to November, "with respect to the war in Gaza, President Biden and I are working around the clock because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a cease fire deal done," she said.
What followed was her closing statement: "America, let us show each other and the world who we are and what we stand for: freedom, opportunity, compassion, dignity, fairness and endless possibilities. We are the heirs to the greatest democracy in the history of the world, and on behalf of our children and our grandchildren, and all those who sacrificed so dearly for our freedom and liberty, we must be worthy of this moment. It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done guided by optimism and faith, to fight for this country we love, to fight for the ideals we cherish, and to uphold the awesome responsibility that comes with the greatest privilege on Earth, the privilege and pride of being an American. So, let's get out there. Let's fight for it. Let's get out there. Let's vote for it — and together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told."
Harris is set to face Trump in an ABC News debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9/8c. David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.wat
Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, addressed the American electorate on Wednesday night in a 15-minute speech that you can watch here. He'll face Vance in a CBS News debate on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Election Day this year is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Watch Harris' speech below, then hit the comments with your reactions.