In the shadow of the White House, seven days before the final votes are cast in the 2024 elections, Kamala Harris promised to put the country above her party and warned that Donald Trump is obsessed with revenge and his own personal interests.
Far from Trump's controversial campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, filled with vulgar and racist insults, Harris chose a more formal setting, the lawn of the Ellipse near the White House, to emphasize the seriousness of this moment in American history and the threat that the Republican candidate represents to democracy.
The place chosen by the Democrats is symbolic, as it was the same one from where Trump delivered a speech in front of thousands of supporters on January 6, 2021, before they stormed the federal Capitol, on one of the darkest days in the country's modern history, in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the presidential elections.
Harris' speech focused on attacking Trump.
But more than just a reminder to voters about the danger that Trump represents to the democracy of the United States, Harris' statements aimed to highlight her opponent's track record of prioritizing his personal interests over those of the nation.
“Donald 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'm here tonight to say: That's not who we are,” Harris said. “I pledge to be a president for all Americans, to always put the country above the party and above myself.”
Her chief advisor, Jen O'Malley Dillon, pointed out that Harris' closing argument aims to reach a narrow segment of undecided voters, many of them moderate Republicans: "This is an extremely close race. It's practically a contest defined within the margin of error. We know it will be decided in this final week."
The constant attacks on Trump led Kamala Harris to abandon the "cheerful" campaign style that defined her entry into the presidential race a few months ago. On Tuesday night, she promised unity, but also described Trump as someone driven more by revenge and grievance than by a commitment to the people.
"We are talking about someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed by grievance, and seeking unrestrained power," Harris said. "This is not a presidential candidate who is looking to improve your life."
At times, Harris directly addressed Republican voters and promised to listen to those who did not vote for her if elected. She previously stated that she would include a Republican in her cabinet.
Left-wing factions warn about Harris' speech
The repeated speech towards moderate Republicans has sparked criticism from the more leftist faction of their party and urged Harris to focus more on the priorities of the working class rather than on the threat that Trump poses to the democracy of the United States.
Ultimately, the vice president's speech aimed to relate both topics. She warned about Trump's threats to democratic norms and promised to take action against high food prices and help buyers with the down payment on their first home.
The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, a key ally of Harris, said that voters can “walk and chew gum at the same time, which means they can listen to an argument about freedom and something that affects their wallet. And I think she is certainly capable of presenting both cases at the same time.”