Joe Biden wipes away tears in farewell speech

Joe Biden got a standing ovation for four minutes and 30 seconds (Picture: AP/Reuters)

Joe Biden said goodbye to the party he has been part of since 1969 in his final Democratic National Convention (DNC) in the White House.

In what may be one of the last major moments of Biden’s political career, the US president delivered a fast-paced and emotional farewell speech in Chicago.

The standing ovation for Biden lasted four minutes and 30 seconds before he could begin his remarks, as cheers of ‘Thank you, Joe,’ echoed.

It was the kind of reaction he never got at the convention in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Having chased the Oval Office for decades, he was greeted by an empty by yesterday’s standards hall.

‘Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and for America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?’ he said.

‘Democracy has prevailed, democracy has delivered and now democracy must be preserved.’

For Biden, the US is at an ‘inflection point’ – again – as voters face a choice between Harris, the vice president, and former US president Donald Trump.

Thinking of the ‘peril and promise’ of the winter he first took office, Biden said his presidency turned a new page. ‘Now it’s summer. The winter is passed.’ he said.

‘He’s the loser. He’s dead wrong,’ Biden later said of his republican foe. ‘Crime will keep going down when we put a prosecutor in the Oval Office instead of a convicted felon.’

It was the white nationalist riots in Charlottesville in 2017 that inspired him to first show his hat into the presidential ring, Biden recalls. 

This was a big decision to make for the then-vice president – some calls were easier than others.

‘Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became our nominee and it’s the best decision I made my whole career,’ Biden said.

Biden has been in politics for half a decade (Picture: Reuters)

The US President said the Charlottesville riots inspired him to become president (Picture: Reuters)

Biden said tapping Kamala Harris to be his VP was one of the ‘easiest’ decisions he’s ever made (Picture: EPA)

And that’s one long career – he became a county councillor in 1970.

‘She’s tough, she’s experienced, and she has enormous integrity,’ Bidensays, adding: ‘She will be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future.’

With convention-goers waving ‘We Love Joe’ signs that, in small print, say ‘Paid for by Harris for President’, Biden reflecting on his first and only presidential term.

He says he made ‘the most significant climate law in the history of mankind’, has made going to college ‘a hell of a lot more affordable’ and strengthened gun safety laws.

‘Putin thought he’d take Kyiv in three days. Three years later, Ukraine is still free,’ he added.

Biden vaguely acknowledged the moments of his presidency not as loved. The ‘protesters in the street’ had a ‘point’, he said, alluding to the weeks of pro-Palestine demonstrations that have roared over the government’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Both Democrats have contrasted them against Donald Trump, whom Biden said was a ‘loser’ (Picture: AFP)

‘I’ve got five months left in my presidency – and I’ve got a lot to do. And I intend to get it done,’ he added.

Biden sought to position his candidacy as part of a wider battle for the soul of the nation, a nation he has served for some half a decade.

‘I love the job,’ Biden added, ‘but I love my country more.’

The president wrapped up his speech to huge cheers and applause, hugging first lady Jill Biden while a large digital screen played a ‘thank you, Joe’ graphic.

Biden waved to the crowd before joining Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff.

‘Joe, thank you for your historic leadership and for your lifetime of service to our nation and for all you continue to do,’ said Kamala.

‘We are forever grateful to you.’

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