President Joe Biden delivered his valedictory address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, marking a pivotal moment as he officially stepped aside from his re-election bid, invigorating his party with the elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket.
At 81, Biden, who has spent 52 years ascending to the peak of influence within his party, was met with a hero’s welcome for his decision to pave the way for Harris, particularly after weeks of mounting pressure from party members urging him to withdraw. The convention’s opening night in Chicago was crafted to provide Biden with a dignified farewell while propelling Harris toward a high-stakes showdown with Republican Donald Trump, whose attempted return to the White House is seen by Democrats as an existential threat.