DNC 2024 Day 4 live updates: Harris makes her case for the presidency -- 'fight for America's future'
Harris set her agenda in a rousing speech at the DNC.
The moment that millions around the country have been waiting for took place Thursday at the Democratic National Convention as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the nomination for the presidency.
Harris took the stage to a roaring standing ovation and soon set her agenda in a rousing speech.
Whether it was immigration, reproductive rights or foreign security, the vice president showcased a sharp contrast in policies to former President Donald Trump.
Harris's speech was preceded by a who's who of leaders from both sides of the aisle who all made the case that she is the best person to be the nation's leader.
Latest headlines:
- 'America let us show each other and the world who we are'
- Harris calls for cease-fire deal, says Israel must be able to defend itself
- Harris vows to sign border bill that Trump derailed
- Harris talking about one of her strongest issues: reproductive rights
- Harris pivots to attack on Trump: 'Unserious man' with 'serious' consequences
'America let us show each other and the world who we are'
Harris wrapped her historic speech by again citing her late mother's words.
"My mother had another lesson she used to teach. Never let anyone tell you who you are. You show them who you are," she said.
"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," she added
Harris pushed Americans to remember "the privilege and pride of being an American."
"Let’s get out there and let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there, and let’s vote for it," she said.
Fact-checking Harris’ claim Trump would deploy the military against U.S. citizens
In a litany of attacks against Trump, Harris cited the former president’s “explicit intent to deploy our active duty military against our own citizens.’
In 2023, Trump told voters at a campaign rally in Iowa that he wouldn’t wait for governors or mayors to “get crime out of our cities" by calling in the military.
Calling New York City and Chicago “crime dens,” Trump said, “And one of the other things I’ll do — because you’re supposed to not be involved in that, you just have to be asked by the governor or the mayor to come in — the next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it, and we’re going to show how bad a job they do ... We don’t have to wait any longer.”
—PolitiFact’s Aaron Sharockman
Scenes from inside the United Center
As Harris speaks, onlookers old and young are hanging on to every word of her historic acceptance speech.
Project 2025 is unpopular
Harris earlier mentioned Project 2025, which risks getting too wonky for the average viewer. But Democrats have been talking about it a lot this week, trying to tie it to Trump. The plan, a conservative roadmap for governance, is pretty unpopular with voters and is getting more so over time. In July, it was 32 points underwater on favorability. A majority of respondents also don't like the specific policies laid out, like "firing thousands of federal employees and replacing them with appointees loyal to the president," "reducing federal civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, and transgender people," and withdrawing federal approval for the abortion pill mifepristone.
— 538's Monica Potts