Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) briefly praised President Biden at the start of her speech on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, despite her reported support for Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race.
“On January 20, 2021, with the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we established one of the most successful presidencies in modern times,” Pelosi said, “and we quickly demonstrated that Democrats deliver results like millions of jobs, stronger infrastructure and rural broadband.”
“The Biden Child Tax Credit, pension relief, honoring our veterans, bold climate action, lowering the cost of prescription drugs – all because of President Biden’s patriotic vision for a more equitable America, with liberty and justice for all,” she said, adding, “Thank you, Joe.”
Pelosi then shifted positions from the current president, praising Vice President Kamala Harris for “proceeding the nomination swiftly and with dignity and grace.”
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Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks during the Democratic National Convention, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Sancia)
Biden ended his reelection campaign on July 21 and immediately endorsed Harris as his running mate. This came after weeks of defections from Democrats who had been pleading with Harris to drop out of the race following her poor performance in a debate in Atlanta against Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. Some reports suggested Pelosi was orchestrating a move to pull Biden out, but Pelosi and other Democrats at the convention insisted Biden was the one “who made the decision for the country.”
Harris secured enough delegates to become the presidential nominee on Aug. 1 during a virtual roll call conducted by the Democratic National Committee two weeks before the convention began at the United Center in Chicago, while Republicans held an in-person roll call at their convention in Milwaukee.
“I know Vice President Harris is poised to lead us to new heights. I’ve known Kamala Harris for decades, and I know personally that she is a person of deep faith, which is evident in her care and service to her community,” Pelosi said Wednesday, before going on to defend Harris’ record on abortion. “She is a strong, wise and eloquent leader on policy, as evidenced most recently by fighting for a woman’s right to choose. Politically, she was shrewd, strategic and won a difficult election, quickly winning the nomination with dignity and grace, and successfully supporting Tim Walz as his vice president.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., waves onstage during the Democratic National Convention, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Sancia)
Critics say Biden will remain president “in name only” despite the Democratic National Committee’s vow to finish the next five months strong.
As for Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Pelosi said she had the honor of serving alongside him in Congress for 12 years.
“He showed courage by uniting Democrats, Republicans and independents, and by voting for Obamacare in response to his constituents’ needs, despite Republican lies and inaccuracies,” Pelosi said. “He came home, won an election, and returned to Congress. As the Democratic leader on the Veterans Affairs Committee, he fought for America’s heroes. Thank you, Tim.”
Speaker Pelosi, who was Speaker of the House on January 6, 2021, addressed the riot at the Capitol, calling it a “dangerous moment for our democracy” and blasting President Trump, without naming the Republican presidential candidate.
Pelosi also called on Democrats to “reject tyranny and choose democracy” by voting for Harris and Walz.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks at the Democratic National Convention, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“Let us not forget who attacked our democracy on January 6th. It was him,” she said of Trump. “But let us not forget who saved our democracy that day. We were the ones who saved it. And thank God we had Democratic members of Congress at the time. We returned to the Capitol that evening. We insisted on certifying the results of the election on the House and Senate floor. And we demonstrated to America and the world that American democracy had prevailed.”
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“The allegory of January 6th reminds us that our democracy is only as strong as the courage and commitment of the people entrusted with it. We must choose leaders who believe in free and fair elections and respect the peaceful transfer of power,” Pelosi said. “The choice is clear: those leaders are Vice President Harris and Governor Walz.”
Fox News’ Alexander Hall contributed to this report.
