Kamala Harris, the first female, Black, and South Asian American Vice President of the United States, delivered a powerful speech on Tuesday, reminding Americans that the divisive and fear-mongering tactics of former President Donald Trump do not represent who they are as a nation. Harris reinforced her campaign’s closing argument from the same site where Trump had incited the Capitol insurrection in 2021.
With just one week left until Election Day, Harris stood at the grassy Ellipse near the White House and pledged to work towards improving the lives of Americans. She also highlighted the stark contrast between her and her Republican opponent, emphasizing that Trump is only focused on his own self-interest.
Harris stated, “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 reminded the audience of Trump’s role in inciting the violent attack on the Capitol and his disregard for the will of the people in a free and fair election.
However, Harris did not use her speech as a platform to discuss democracy, as her running mate President Joe Biden often does. Instead, she focused on making a broader case for why voters should reject Trump and consider what she has to offer. Harris also encouraged the crowd to visualize the divergent futures that are at stake on Election Day.
She stated, “He has an enemies list of people he intends to prosecute. He says one of his highest priorities is to set free the violent extremists who assaulted those law enforcement officers on Jan. 6. Donald Trump intends to use the United States military against American citizens who simply disagree with him. People he calls ‘the enemy from within.’ This is not a candidate for president who is thinking about how to make your life better.”
Harris’ speech drew a massive crowd to Washington, with an overflow crowd spilling under the Washington Monument on the National Mall. Her campaign strategically chose this location to catch the attention of battleground state voters who are still undecided or considering not voting at all.
Before Harris took the stage, her campaign organized a list of speakers who were ordinary Americans, rather than celebrities or elected officials. These speakers included Amanda Zurawski, a woman who almost died from sepsis after being denied care under Texas’ strict abortion ban, and Craig Sicknick, the brother of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who tragically passed away after the Jan. 6 attack.
Ruth Chiari, a 78-year-old attendee from Charlottesville, Virginia, stated that she was there to “support democracy.” She added, “I think everybody understands what’s on the ballot. We’re either going to have an autocrat or freedom.”
Kathleen Nicholas, a 36-year-old government relations worker from Washington, also attended the rally and appreciated the contrast between the atmosphere of the event and Trump’s rally on Sunday. She said, “I like that she chose this place for her closing. Having something that is a direct contrast to that day is what we needed.”
With time running out and the race tight, both Harris and Trump have been seeking big moments to sway voters in their direction. Harris’ speech came just days after she traveled to Texas, a traditionally Republican state, to appear with megastar Beyoncé and highlight the consequences for women after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This event was also meant to resonate with voters in battleground states.
Harris’ campaign had been planning this speech for weeks, but they hoped it would have a greater impact after Trump’s recent rally in New York, where speakers made cruel and racist remarks. Harris stated, “The event highlighted the point that I’ve been making throughout this campaign. He is focused and fixated on his grievances, on himself, and on dividing our country.”
Harris used her speech to lay out a pragmatic and forward-looking plan for the country, including her economic proposals and her commitment to ensuring access to reproductive care, including abortion.
She stated, “Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy. He wants to put them in jail. I’ll give them a seat at my table. And I pledge to be a president for all Americans, to always put country above party and above self.”
Harris also emphasized her position as a “new generation” of leader, different from both Trump and her current boss, Biden.
