Five things we learned from Kamala Harris’s DNC speech
Kamala Harris accepted her party’s presidential nomination amid euphoric scenes at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Here are five takeaways from her speech to delegates as her fight for the White House against Donald Trump formally began.
1 – History maker
This was the night that Kamala Harris made history as the first woman of colour from either party to become a presidential nominee.
Many of the delegates wore white in honour of the suffragette movement on the night the woman who could become America’s first female president spoke.
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Trump is a ‘weak man who is pretending to be strong’, says Republican
But Harris didn’t wear white, perhaps because she did not want to dwell on the history-making nature of her candidacy.
But it is worth pausing to recall that in Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and now Harris, three of the key speeches of the convention came from black women.
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Obama zingers delight the DNC
2 – Unity
“Kamala Harris for the People” was the campaign slogan for her ultimately unsuccessful 2020 presidential bid and she repeated it tonight.
Harris says she is the candidate of unity, focusing on the idea that she is fighting for the ordinary person – talking about her working-class roots and working at McDonald’s – while framing Donald Trump as an elite whose economic policy is designed to look after his billionaire friends.
3 – Personal story
Even though she has been in the White House for four years, in many parts of the United States people are not intimately familiar with her story.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris kisses second gentleman Douglas Emhoff after the nomination. Pic: AP
Her speech began by recapping the journey her mother Shyamala took from India to California aged 19, before meeting her Jamaican father.
She spoke about their struggles to afford a house in the San Francisco Bay Area and how her passion to become a prosecutor was fired by witnessing injustice in her own life.
4 – How will she bring the fight to Donald Trump?
The campaign theme of belittling Donald Trump continued. Harris’s running mate Tim Walz coined the phrase “weird” to describe Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
In her speech, Harris described Trump as an “unserious” man although she did go on to give grave warnings about what a second Trump presidency would mean.
“Consider his explicit intent to set free violent extremists,” she said, “his explicit intent to jail journalists, political opponents, and anyone he sees as the enemy.”
5 – Policy
The Harris campaign has been derided for being heavy on the vibes and light on the policy detail. While we did not hear a lot new in terms of explicit policy detail in this speech, she gave a window into what a Harris presidency would look like.
Read more:
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Fight for US’s future, Harris urges party
There were sections in her speech on housing, reproductive rights and on Israel and Gaza.
Wavering voters now have more of an idea of what kind of president she would be.
The King has written to former US president Joe Biden after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, Buckingham Palace said
The monarch, who is undergoing his own treatment for an undisclosed cancer, hosted the 82-year-old for tea and talks at Windsor in July 2023.
Mr Biden was diagnosed on Friday, with tests revealing the cancer had spread to his bones.
The former president posted an image of himself and his wife Jill on X on Monday and wrote: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The King and Joe Biden at Windsor Castle in July 2023. Pic: Reuters
The King’s letter comes after British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer”.
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the President swift and successful treatment,” he added.
Meanwhile US President Donald Trump said he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former US president Barack Obama said: “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family.
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Read more: Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer
Barack Obama (right) with Joe Biden at a campaign event in 2022. File pic: Reuters
After a poor debate performance against Mr Trump and amid escalating concerns around his age and fitness to serve, Mr Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election race and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.
Ms Harris wrote on X after his diagnosis: “We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time.
“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
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Mr Biden’s diagnosis: What we know
Former US president Bill Clinton wrote on social media: “My friend Joe Biden’s always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts.”
Hillary Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016, said she was “thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they’ve done so much to try to spare other families from”.
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson said it was “sad news” and his family “will be joining the countless others who are praying” for Mr Biden.
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Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi described Mr Biden as a “great American patriot” and said she was “praying for him to have strength and a swift recovery”.
Mr Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, wrote on social media that he and his wife were “united in prayer for the Biden Family during this difficult time”.
Politicians have sent messages of support to Joe Biden, who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 82-year-old, who is the oldest person to ever serve as US president, was described as a “fighter” with people wishing him a “fast and full recovery”.
US President Donald Trump said he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former US president Barack Obama said: “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family.
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Read more: Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer
Barack Obama (right) with Joe Biden at a campaign event in 2022. File pic: Reuters
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer”.
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the President swift and successful treatment,” he added.
After a poor debate performance against Mr Trump and amid escalating concerns for his health, Mr Biden withdrew from the 2024 election and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.
Ms Harris wrote on X: “We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time.
“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Mr Biden’s diagnosis: What we know
Former US president Bill Clinton wrote on social media: “My friend Joe Biden’s always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts.”
Hillary Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016, said she was “thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they’ve done so much to try to spare other families from”.
Speaker of the US House Of Representatives Mike Johnson said it was “sad news” and his family “will be joining the countless others who are praying” for Mr Biden.
Read more from Sky News:
UK and EU sign reset deal – live updates
Gary Lineker to leave BBC next week
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi described Mr Biden as a “great American patriot” and said she was “praying for him to have strength and a swift recovery”.
Mr Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, wrote on social media he and his wife were “united in prayer for the Biden Family during this difficult time”.
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