What to remember from Kamala Harris’ speech, officially nominated as candidate by the Democrats

The vice president is officially running against former President Donald Trump in the November election. But some points of her platform are still unclear.

She wants “to trace a new path” unity. Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the November presidential election in Chicago (United States) on Thursday, August 23, which will pit her against Donald Trump. “I promise to be the president of all Americans”the 59-year-old vice president said to deafening cheers from thousands of delegates in a speech lasting less than 40 minutes. In an authoritative, often solemn speech, Kamala Harris sometimes took on patriotic overtones. Here’s what to remember from her speech.

A call for unity

Kamala Harris has been careful to show herself ready to govern the country. “In the eternal struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand. And I know where America must stand.”she said. She spoke at length about her late mother, the common thread of her speech, who left India at the age of 19 to pursue her dream of becoming a scientist. Presenting her as a model of high standards, she spoke about the discrimination she had seen her subjected to and said she had learned from her “never to [se] complain about injustice, but to act against it”.

“On behalf of all Americans, regardless of party, race, gender (…) On behalf of all those whose history can only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination to become President of the United States.”the candidate said, seeking to mark her difference from Donald Trump.

Attacks on Donald Trump

“We know what a second Trump term would look like. It’s all written in Project 2025,” she said, referring to an ultraconservative program put together by people close to the billionaire, the aim of which, she said, is to “bringing our country back years”. “Unlike Trump, I will not make friends with dictators”she added.

The Vice President also mentioned the storming of the Washington Capitol on January 6, 2021. “Donald Trump is a man who lacks seriousnessshe stressed. But the consequences of returning Donald Trump to the White House would be extremely serious.” The vice president repeated one of her campaign slogans: “we will not go back”.

Call for ceasefire in Gaza

On the sidelines of the Democratic festivities, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been held throughout the week in Chicago to denounce American support for Israel’s war in Gaza. A few thousand people were still gathered on Thursday. Kamala Harris has promised to “conclude” a truce agreement between Israel and Hamas. “President Biden and I are working day and night […] because it is time to get an agreement for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire”she said.

“So many innocent lives have been lost. Desperate and hungry people are constantly fleeing for safety. The scale of the suffering is heartbreaking.”she said. While assuring that she would continue “always support Israel”she also defended “self-determination” Palestinians.

The candidate’s program remains unclear

Kamala Harris did not use her speech to detail her programmatic proposals, but returned to certain already known points of her economic program, presented on Friday, August 16. The candidate promised to reduce the costs of “everyday needs”including spending on health, housing and food. She also revisited the right to abortion, which is no longer guaranteed since a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2023. “America cannot be truly prosperous unless Americans are allowed to make the decisions that affect their own lives.”she said. If Kamala Harris explained that the United States was ready to “move forward” and promised to help the “middle class”she didn’t give many details on how to get there.

A reform of the immigration system

The candidate has taken up one of the most explosive subjects of the presidential campaign. “I know we can live up to our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants and reform our broken immigration system,” she said. She promised to enact a bill that had bipartisan support but that she blames her Republican rival for scuttling. “I refuse to play politics with our security”she cried again.