To conclude a night intended to commemorate his legacy, Democrats extended President Joe Biden’s appearance on the Democratic National Convention stage beyond his scheduled primetime slot, putting off his long awaited speech well past 11pm.
The president’s primetime speaking engagement was cut short due to a significant delay, which resulted in his appearance on the east coast at nearly midnight.
Biden’s four years in office, his decision to select Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate, and his decision to end his 2024 reelection campaign were the subjects of numerous speeches during the first night of the convention.
Throughout his speech, Biden, who was visibly emotional, expressed his gratitude to Harris, despite being repeatedly interrupted by “thank you, Joe” chants.
Speculation ensued regarding the rationale behind the president’s decision to speak at a time when many Americans would have already retired for the night, as the speakers preceding Biden extended their speeches.
The night was also marked by the presence of First Lady Jill Biden and her tenure in the White House, as delegates in the United Center held up “JILL” signs whenever the president’s wife was mentioned.
They took the nomination away from him and now booted him out of prime time.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) August 20, 2024
We're 90 minutes behind schedule.
It's unconscionable to have President Biden's address occur at midnight ET.
We should postpone some upcoming folks and put the president up there soon.
— Christopher Hale (@chrisjollyhale) August 20, 2024
Just after 11 p.m., the first lady momentarily prepared the audience for her husband’s speech, nearly an hour after she was originally scheduled to take the stage
The debacle drives home just how much the Democratic party has tried to distance itself from Biden in the wake of his decision to not pursuse reelection this year.
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