Kamala Harris pitches election as ‘fight for America’s future’ and risk of Trump ‘chaos and calamity’
Kamala Harris has set out her plan to defeat Donald Trump and keep the Democrats in the White House for another four years.
The US vice president has accepted her party’s nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
She walked onto the stage to the sound of her campaign track “Freedom” by Beyonce, although speculation about the singer performing on the night was inaccurate.
Ms Harris began by referring to her journey to become the party’s candidate telling delegates: “I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys”.
Her speech was littered with policy announcements: “a middle-class tax cut” for more than 100 million Americans, a bill to restore reproductive freedoms and reforms to the immigration system.
Kamala Harris clashes with Donald Trump on policy. Pic: AP
As promised, Donald Trump posted responses live on his Truth Social website – repeating personal attacks by calling her “Comrade Kamala Harris”, accusing her of “fake Indian heritage” and being “weak and ineffective”.
He criticised Ms Harris for her government’s record on crime, the economy and illegal immigration – even suggesting she would take America “into a nuclear World War Three”.
Meanwhile, Ms Harris also attacked the former president by framing his time in the White House as “chaos and calamity” and insisting: “We are not going back!”
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She warned voters about the prospect of a second Trump term, describing him as self-serving, criticising his recent fraud charges, and warning about his immunity from criminal prosecution by posing the question: “Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.”
On foreign policy, she chose to assert differences with her rival, including support for NATO – which Mr Trump threatened to abandon – and accusing him of encouraging Russia to invade Ukraine.
Pic: AP
Ms Harris spoke about what she called the “enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny” – tyrants and dictators like Kim-Jong-Un “are rooting for Mr Trump” because he is “easy to manipulate”.
She also called for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza – the Israel-Hamas war had brought together thousands to march in protest outside the DNC.
Ms Harris said she backed “Israel’s right to defend itself”, but also recognised the suffering of Palestinians and “their right to… self-determination”.
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Her childhood featured in her speech too, including some of the values she learned from her parents – who eventually divorced – and touching on the challenges she faced growing up.
Ms Harris recounted the story of her school friend, who she said was sexually abused, and how it inspired her to become a prosecutor.
There was also praise for president Joe Biden – and his “extraordinary” history – who was effectively forced to drop out of the presidential race.
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‘Harris is winning FYP battle’
She also mentioned her running mate Tim Walz, setting him out as an “incredible vice president”, at the convention which also featured A-list pop stars.
Pink dueted her protest song “What About Us” with her 12-year-old daughter.
Ms Harris’s speech completes a four-day effort by the Democrats to win over voters, after creating a fresh presidential campaign in just under a month since Mr Biden bowed out of the race.
She told delegates: “With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past.”
In contrast, the Trump campaign argues voters want to turn the page on the Biden-Harris administration and the past four years.
Elon Musk has said he is committed to remaining as Tesla’s chief executive for at least five years, as the electric carmaker faces pressure from consumers and the stock market over his work with Donald Trump’s government.
The world’s richest man said he will cut back on political spending after heavily backing the US president last year.
During a video appearance at the Qatar Economic Forum hosted by Bloomberg, a moderator asked: “Do you see yourself and are you committed to still being the chief executive of Tesla in five years’ time?”
Musk responded: “Yes.”
The moderator added: “No doubt about that at all?”
Musk chuckled and replied: “I can’t be still here if I’m dead.”
Tesla has borne the brunt of the outrage against Musk over his work with Mr Trump as part of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which implemented cuts across the US federal government.
Asked if the reaction made him think twice about his involvement in politics, Musk said: “I did what needed to be done.
“I’m not someone who has ever committed violence and yet massive violence was committed against my companies, massive violence was threatened against me.”
He added: “Don’t worry: We’re coming for you.”
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Musk pulls back from D.O.G.E. role
Musk spent at least 250 million dollars (£187m) supporting Mr Trump in the presidential campaign, and even held some of his own campaign rallies.
“I’m going to do a lot less in the future,” Mr Musk said. Asked why, he responded: “I think I’ve done enough.”
And he added: “Well, if I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it. I do not currently see a reason.”
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It comes after a Tesla pay package Musk was due, once valued at $56bn (£41.8bn) was stopped by a judge in Delaware.
Musk referred to chancellor Kathaleen St Jude McCormick as an “activist who is cosplaying a judge in a Halloween costume”.
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But he acknowledged his Tesla pay was part of his consideration about staying with Tesla, though he also wanted “sufficient voting control” so he “cannot be ousted by activist investors”.
“It’s not a money thing, it’s a reasonable control thing over the future of the company, especially if we’re building millions, potentially billions of humanoid robots,” he added.
Donald Trump has announced the concept for his Golden Dome missile defence system – which includes plans for the US put weapons in space for the first time.
The “cutting-edge missile defence system” will include “space-based sensors and interceptors”, Mr Trump said, adding the Golden Dome “should be fully operational by the end of my term”.
The system – styled on Israel’s Iron Dome – will be able to detect and stop missiles at all points of attack, from before launch to when they are descending towards a target, the Trump administration has said.
Making the announcement in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Mr Trump told reporters the Golden Dome will be “capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from the other side of the world”.
The US president also said Canada “has called us and they want to be part of it”. “As usual, we help Canada as best we can,” he said.
Trump was flanked by two Golden Dome posters. Pic: AP
He has also pledged that the entire system to be built within the United States. Manufacturers in Georgia, Alaska, Florida and Indiana will all be heavily involved in the project, Mr Trump said.
General Michael Guetlein, who currently serves as the vice chief of space operations, will oversee the Golden Dome’s progress.
The space weapons “represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations,” General Chance Saltzman, the head of the US Space Force, said at a hearing Tuesday.
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth joined the president for the announcement. Pic: AP
How much will the Golden Dome cost?
Mr Trump said he has allocated $25bn “to help get construction under way,” which he described as an initial down payment.
The total cost will be “about $175bn”, the US president added – but the Congressional Budget Office has put the price much higher.
The space-based components alone could cost as much as $542bn (£405bn) over the next 20 years, it estimated earlier this month.
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Mr Trump’s announcement came shortly after the newly confirmed US Air Force secretary said there’s currently no money allocated for the Golden Dome.
The programme is “still in the conceptual stage,” Troy Meink told senators today.
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The Pentagon has for years warned that the newest missiles developed by Russia and China are so advanced counter measures are needed.
Both Russia and China have already put offensive weapons, such as satellites capable of disabling those of other countries, in space.
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