Kamala Harris Accepts Democratic Nomination in a Night of Personal Stories and Celebrity Endorsements
In a night filled with personal anecdotes from loved ones and support from celebrities, Kamala Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination to challenge Donald Trump for the presidency. The final day of the convention in Chicago was marked by eager anticipation as rumors circulated that Beyoncé might perform. Each time a speaker left the stage, and the MC prepared to introduce the next guest, the crowd held its breath. Ultimately, Beyoncé didn’t make an appearance, but the spotlight remained firmly on Harris, who had only weeks to prepare her case to the American people as a potential first female president.
In her wide-ranging speech, Harris touched on critical issues, including foreign policy, abortion rights, and climate change, aiming to set herself apart from her opponent. Here are the key moments from the final day of the Democratic National Convention.
Kamala Harris Strives to Introduce Herself to America
Harris faced a daunting task in her nomination acceptance speech. Just a month ago, she was serving as President Joe Biden’s running mate, but after Biden’s poor debate performance against Trump in June, Harris was quickly elevated to lead the ticket. Most presidential candidates have months, if not years, to refine their convention speech, but Harris had only a few weeks.
She used this opportunity to introduce herself to the American public, many of whom knew her primarily as Biden’s vice president but not much else. Her young nieces took the stage to teach the crowd how to pronounce her name correctly, and her sister Maya shared stories from their childhood as daughters of immigrants in 1960s California.
When it was finally her turn, Harris wished her husband Doug a happy anniversary, honored her late mother, and acknowledged the historic significance of her candidacy as the first Black woman and South Asian American to be a major party’s presidential nominee. “So, on behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks… I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America,” she declared.
Harris Warns of a ‘Donald Trump Without Guardrails’
In her criticism of Trump, Harris avoided the “weird” attack line some Democrats have used since her former running mate, Tim Walz, introduced it in media interviews. Instead, she returned to a more traditional approach, portraying Trump as a threat to democracy. She highlighted his efforts to overturn Biden’s election victory, his intention to pardon January 6 rioters, and the various civil fraud and sexual abuse cases against him.
Harris warned that Trump, especially after the Supreme Court’s recent decision granting ex-presidents some immunity from criminal prosecution, posed a greater threat than ever. “Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails and how he would use the immense powers of the presidency,” Harris said. “Not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had: himself.”
She also attacked Trump on domestic and foreign policy, accusing him and his allies of planning to implement a nationwide abortion ban despite his public statements suggesting he would leave the decision to the states. Harris claimed that dictators like North Korea’s Kim Jong-un were “rooting for Trump,” asserting, “Donald Trump is an unserious man, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
A Beyoncé Rumor Electrifies the Crowd
Speculation about a possible Beyoncé appearance on the convention’s final night had been building throughout the week. Her song “Freedom” had become the anthem of the Harris campaign, with Beyoncé’s blessing, and an a cappella version of the track was played on the first night of the convention. Excitement reached its peak when White House political director Emmy Ruiz posted a bee emoji on X (formerly Twitter), a nod to Beyoncé’s fan base, known as the “Bey-hive.” When Ruiz later claimed, “Sorry guys my 6-year-old took my phone,” skepticism remained high.
Whether the Beyoncé rumor was an out-of-control story or a deliberate ploy to boost viewership, the crowd was left disappointed when she didn’t appear. However, other celebrities did lend their star power to Harris’s cause. P!nk delivered an acoustic rendition of “What About Us” with her daughter Willow, and The Chicks returned to perform the national anthem, just as they had at the 2020 Democratic convention.
The Gaza Conflict Deepens Democratic Party Divisions
In the lead-up to the convention, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) faced mounting pressure to include a pro-Palestinian voice onstage. Uncommitted delegates, representing hundreds of thousands of protest votes, had requested a speaking slot for a Palestinian American. “The DNC kept telling us that they would get back to us and to be patient,” said Asma Mohammed, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota. “And finally, yesterday at 8pm, they told us the answer was no.”
In response, some delegates staged a 24-hour sit-in protest just outside the main convention arena. Palestinian American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib visited the protestors to show her support, and fellow ‘Squad’ member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined via FaceTime, urging the DNC to reconsider. The DNC declined to comment on its decision, but party elder Nancy Pelosi noted that Ocasio-Cortez could have addressed the issue in her speech, adding, “We don’t have every nationality in our country speak at a convention.”
In the end, Ruwa Romman, the first Muslim member of the Georgia state legislature, delivered her speech at a press conference outside the convention. She spoke about her Palestinian roots and the suffering in Gaza, while stopping short of criticizing the Biden administration. “To those who doubt us, to the cynics and the naysayers, I say, ‘Yes, we can,'” Romman declared. “Yes we can be a Democratic Party that prioritizes funding our schools and hospitals, not endless wars. That fights for an America that belongs to all of us. Black, brown, and white, Jews and Palestinians, all of us together.”
During her own speech, Harris addressed the Gaza conflict, emphasizing the urgency of securing a hostage release and ceasefire. She condemned Hamas for the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel while also expressing deep concern over the devastation in Gaza. “So many innocent lives lost, desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking,” she said, earning one of the loudest cheers of the night.
Trump Focuses on Immigration as Election Day Approaches
While Democrats celebrated in Chicago, Trump traveled to Arizona’s border with Mexico to discuss immigration, a topic where polls show he holds a significant advantage over Harris. Some surveys suggest that Americans prefer Trump’s stance on immigration over Biden’s by more than 30 points.
Although the decision to replace Biden with Harris has improved the Democrats’ standing on immigration, Trump clearly sees this as an area where he holds the upper hand. In Arizona, he threatened large tariffs on countries that refuse to accept deported migrants. “The countries will accept them back, and if they don’t, we do no trade with those countries and we charge them big tariffs,” Trump said.
Now that the Democratic convention is over, the race to election day on November 5 is in full swing. Most polls indicate that switching from Biden to Harris has boosted the Democrats’ chances against Trump, making the election a toss-up if it were held today.