Eleanor Finch
On October 29, 2024, Kamala Harris, the US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, gave a campaign speech from the Ellipse, a grassy area near the White House in Washington, DC. Harris's speech was a closing argument of her presidential campaign, delivered from the same site where Donald Trump fomented the Capitol insurrection. Harris's speech focused on her economic policy proposals and drew a contrast between her vision and former President Trump's chaos and division. She also emphasized the consequences for women after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Harris's campaign aimed to center the race on Trump's efforts to sow division and fear and how she would be different as a president.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 October 2024 |
| Time | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| Location | The Ellipse, Washington, D.C. |
| Theme | Trump's efforts to sow division and fear |
| Attendees | Overflow crowd, including Biden (watching on TV) |
| Purpose | Closing argument of her presidential campaign |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's campaign speech
On Tuesday, 29 October 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a campaign speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., located south of the White House. This was the same site where former President Donald Trump delivered a speech on 6 January 2021, before the Capitol insurrection. Harris's speech was scheduled to run from 4-6 p.m. CT and was livestreamed on her YouTube page.
In her address, Harris emphasised that the upcoming election was about the choice Americans faced and what was at stake for the future of the country. She contrasted herself with her Republican opponent, stating that while he was "in it for himself", she would work to improve the lives of Americans. Harris accused Trump of trying to keep Americans "divided and afraid of each other", asserting that this was "not who we are".
The speech built on Harris's previous appearances in Texas, a reliably Republican state, where she emphasised the consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and was joined by megastar Beyoncé, who performed Harris's campaign anthem, "Freedom". Harris's campaign also organised a speakers list of ordinary Americans, including individuals impacted by Texas' strict abortion ban and individuals affected by the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Following the speech, Harris was spotted dining in West Hollywood with her husband, Doug Emhoff, who has returned to his legal career by joining the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Harris is reportedly contemplating her future political ambitions, including a potential run for California governor or another US Presidential bid.
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Harris's aides believe Trump is the strongest message for voters
On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ET, Vice President Kamala Harris gave a campaign speech from the Ellipse near the White House. This was the same site where former President Donald Trump fomented the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. Harris' speech was intended to be a "summation" of her case against Trump, highlighting their differences and presenting her vision for the country.
Harris' aides, including campaign communications director Michael Tyler, believe that focusing on Trump's negative characteristics and how Harris differs from him will resonate strongly with voters. They aim to emphasize Trump's role in the Capitol insurrection, his focus on self-interest, and his efforts to sow division and fear among Americans. Harris intends to present herself as a unifying force in contrast to Trump's divisiveness.
In her speech, Harris pledged to "put country above party and above self," reminding voters of the consequences of Trump's actions, such as the insurrection and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She also emphasized her economic proposals and her commitment to reproductive freedom, drawing a clear contrast between her policies and Trump's. Harris' campaign strategically chose the location to provide a visual reminder of Trump's actions and the stakes of the election.
Harris' message aims to appeal to battleground state voters who are undecided or unsure about voting. Her campaign organized a speakers' list of ordinary Americans to connect with these voters, rather than relying solely on star power or elected officials. The hope is that by highlighting Trump's negative impact and presenting Harris' positive agenda, voters will be motivated to choose Harris as a leader who prioritizes unity, democracy, and pragmatic solutions over division and self-interest.
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Harris's speech in Texas with Beyoncé
On Friday, October 25, 2024, Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President, held a campaign rally in Houston, Texas, with Beyoncé. The event was meant to highlight the growing medical fallout from Texas's strict abortion ban, with a focus on reproductive rights, the economy, and LGBTQ issues. Harris's campaign has adopted Beyoncé's 2016 song "Freedom" as its anthem, reflecting the vice president's emphasis on reproductive freedom.
In her speech, Beyoncé endorsed Harris, stating:
> I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in. A world where we have freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided.
Beyoncé, joined by her mother, Tina Knowles, and her former Destiny's Child bandmate, Kelly Rowland, emphasised the need for unity and the power of individual votes. She introduced Harris with the words:
> Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, loud, Texas welcome to the next president of the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris's speech concluded the night. She emphasised the consequences for women following the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Harris also aimed to present a pragmatic and forward-looking plan for the country, reminding voters of her economic proposals and pledging to work for access to reproductive care, including abortion.
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Harris's pledge to work for access to reproductive care
On October 29, 2024, US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris delivered her campaign speech from the Ellipse near the White House. The address came days after Harris travelled to Texas, a reliably Republican state, to emphasize the consequences for women after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Harris pledged to work for access to reproductive care, including abortion.
Harris' speech aimed to make a broader case for why voters should reject Trump and consider what she offers, while introducing herself to voters still clamoring for more information. She said, "Trump has spent a decade trying to keep the American people divided and afraid of each other: That's who he is. But America, I am here tonight to say: That's not who we are." She also said, "As Americans, we rise and fall together. America, for too long, we have been consumed with too much division, chaos and mutual distrust."
Harris' aides, many of whom also advised Biden's campaign before he dropped out, believed that centering the race on who Trump is and how she's different would be their strongest message for voters. Campaign communications director Michael Tyler said, "She's already made her case, she's presented the evidence. She's offering up a summation tonight, and she has faith in the wisdom of the jury." Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, an ally of Harris, also said that it was important for battleground voters to be reminded of the consequences of their choice and for Harris "to really drive home the stakes of this election and the clear contrast in the race." He added that Harris had the stronger argument on economic policies, reproductive freedom, and the matter of chaos versus order.
Harris' speech drew a massive crowd to Washington, with an overflow crowd spilling under the Washington Monument on the National Mall. Her campaign hoped that the setting would help catch the attention of battleground state voters who remain undecided. Harris' pledge to work for access to reproductive care, including abortion, is a crucial part of her platform and a key distinction between her and Trump.
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Harris's closing argument of her presidential campaign
Good evening, America. I stand before you tonight at this critical juncture in our nation's history, just one week before Election Day, to present my closing argument for why I should be your next president. I am here to offer a stark contrast to the division and fear that have plagued our country for far too long.
As your Vice President for the past four years, I have worked tirelessly alongside President Joe Biden to unite our country and address the challenges facing our nation. We have made significant progress, but our work is not yet done. Our country is still facing economic uncertainties, threats to reproductive freedom, and the negative impacts of climate change. But I promise you, I will put country above party and above self to address these issues and move our nation forward.
My opponent, former President Donald Trump, has spent the last decade trying to divide us and spread fear among our citizens. He has focused on his self-interest and grievances, and his actions have led to chaos and mutual distrust among Americans. We cannot let him take our country backwards. We must remember who we are as Americans—we rise and fall together.
In my presidency, I will work to bring us together and address the issues that matter most to our citizens. I will fight for economic policies that benefit all Americans, not just the wealthy few. I will ensure access to reproductive care, including abortion, and protect the rights of women across our nation. I will also continue to address the "shadows over our democracy," the "flames on our horizons," and the "rising waters in our cities."
I am honoured to be your Vice President, and I humbly ask for your support as I seek to become your next President. Together, we can build a brighter future for our nation, where unity, prosperity, and freedom prevail. Thank you, and may God bless America.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, gave a speech on 29 October 2024 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Harris gave her campaign speech from the Ellipse, near the White House, in Washington, D.C.
Harris' speech was a closing argument for her presidential campaign. She promised to "put country above party and above self" and emphasised the consequences for women after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Harris' speech drew a massive crowd to Washington, with an overflow crowd spilling under the Washington Monument on the National Mall. The Trump campaign issued a statement saying Harris had "zero policy solutions to offer".
