Harris Accepts Vice Presidential Nomination... "Trump's Failed Leadership Is Ruining the US"

First Black Female Vice Presidential Candidate Officially Nominated in the US
Democratic Heavyweights Condemn Trump... Obama Calls It a "Crisis of American Democracy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The third consecutive day of the U.S. Democratic National Convention turned into a denunciation of Donald Trump. Democratic heavyweights such as former President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton all appeared to criticize the collapse of American democracy and the failed response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since President Trump's inauguration. Senator Kamala Harris was officially nominated as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 19th (local time), Harris, the first Black female vice-presidential candidate in U.S. history, delivered her acceptance speech via video from Wilmington, Delaware, pointing out that "President Trump's failed leadership is sacrificing the lives and livelihoods of the American people." She said, "We are now at a turning point," adding, "Continued chaos has left America adrift, and fear and indifference caused by incompetence have isolated us," and "We could have done better and deserved better treatment."

She continued, "We must elect a president who is different, better, and capable," arguing, "The president must be someone who unites Black, White, Latino, Asian, Native American, and all of us to achieve the future we all want." She also appealed for support, saying, "The current president uses our tragedies as political weapons, but Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is the person who will turn the challenges we face into goals to be achieved."

Vice-presidential candidate Harris was nominated by three women: her younger sister Maya Harris, her niece Mena Harris, and her stepdaughter Ella Emhoff.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives [Photo by AP]

Former President Obama, who spoke as a supporting speaker just before Harris's acceptance speech, fiercely criticized his successor, President Trump. In a speech at the American Revolution Museum in Philadelphia, he said, "I did not expect President Trump to continue policies or visions, but I thought he would take the presidency seriously for America, but he did not," adding, "He has no interest in finding common ground, used power for himself and his friends rather than helping others, and turned the presidency into another reality show."

He also pointed to responsibility for the failure in COVID-19 prevention. Former President Obama said, "170,000 people have lost their lives and millions have lost jobs due to COVID," adding, "The reputation of America, once proud worldwide, has disappeared, and democratic institutions face unprecedented crises."

Foreign media reported that former President Barack Obama put special effort into revising his speech until just before delivering it.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

House Speaker Pelosi, who is at odds with President Trump, also criticized his misogynistic remarks. She said, "As Speaker, I have seen firsthand how President Trump ignores facts, workers, and women," adding, "President Trump may not know, but we know that when women succeed, America succeeds."

Former Secretary Clinton, who lost to President Trump in the last presidential election, said, "I hoped President Trump would be a better president, but sadly, he remains the same," adding, "Americans want a president in the White House with compassion, decisiveness, and leadership like the presidents they have seen before."

Senator Elizabeth Warren, who lost in the Democratic presidential primary, also criticized President Trump's failed COVID-19 response in her speech that day.

The four-day U.S. Democratic National Convention will conclude on the 20th with Biden's acceptance speech.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.