DNC 2024 Day 1 live updates: Biden lays out choice to 'save democracy' with Harris

Democrats kicked off their convention Monday with a who's who of guests who all touted Vice President Kamala Harris' run for the White House.

Several topics came up during the night including the future of reproductive rights and Project 2025.

Harris made a surprise appearance after several Democratic VIPS took the stage, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The main stars of the night were some of the Democrats' longstanding figures including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

But the main spotlight came as President Joe Biden spoke to the cheering crowd, reflecting on his four years as president and his decision to "pass the torch" to Harris.

Latest Developments

_{Aug 20, 1:30 AM}

California Gov. Newsom to present Harris with delegate votes at ceremonial DNC roll call

California Gov. Gavin Newsom will lead his state's delegation at the DNC on Tuesday, delivering the delegates that send California native, Vice President Kamala Harris, over the top of the delegate threshold for the nomination in a ceremonial roll call.

Harris is already the nominee, but Tuesday's ceremonial roll call is a gesture in name only.

Politico was first to report the news.

-ABC News' Zohreen Shah and Brittany Shepherd

_{Aug 20, 12:33 AM}

'America, America, I gave my best to you': Biden

Biden closed his speech by citing a verse from the song "American Anthem," which he says has meant a lot to him and his family.

He said he would spare the crowd his singing so just quoted the verse: "America, America, I gave my best to you."

"I gave my best to you for 50 years," Biden said. "I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you."

He ended his speech saying he's more optimistic about the future than he was when he was first elected to the Senate at the age of 29.

"Folks, we just have to remember who we are," he said. "We're the United States of America. And there's nothing we cannot do when we do it together."

_{Aug 20, 12:30 AM}

Biden joined by Jill Biden, Kamala Harris after speech

After giving remarks for roughly an hour, Biden was joined by first lady Jill Biden on stage as the song "Higher Love" blared throughout the stadium.

They were soon joined by Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, both of whom exchanged hugs with Biden.

Other Biden family members also embraced him, including his son Hunter Biden and several of his grandchildren.

At one point, Harris and Biden clasped their hands together and raised them in the air.

_{Aug 20, 12:17 AM}

Scene inside United Center as Biden speaks

All around the stadium, attendees held up vertical "We love Joe" signs echo the shape of the delegation signposts. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was seen on the convention floor with the sign.

Others held up cards that read, "Thank you Joe."

In their box, Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz sat with their spouses listening to Biden's speech. Walz was emotional throughout much of the president's remarks.

_{Aug 20, 12:14 AM}

DNC program over planned time

Monday night's DNC programming was scheduled to wrap over an hour ago, by 11 p.m., as Biden continues his keynote speech.

DNC officials addressed the length, blaming the "raucous applause" for going over the time.

"Because of the raucous applause interrupting speaker after speaker, we ultimately skipped elements of our program to ensure we could get to President Biden as quickly as possible so that he could speak directly to the American people," convention officials said in a statement. "We are proud of the electric atmosphere in our convention hall and proud that our convention is showcasing the broad and diverse coalition behind the Harris-Walz ticket throughout the week on and off the stage."

_{Aug 20, 12:12 AM}

Biden discusses Ukraine, Gaza wars

President Biden, after touting accomplishments at home, turned to his handling of conflicts around the globe.

On Ukraine, Biden praised the strength of Kyiv and of NATO in the face of Russia's aggression.

"Just as no commander in chief should ever bow down to a dictator, the way Trump bows down to Putin, I never have," Biden said. "And I promise you, Kamala Harris will never do it, will never bow down."

Biden also discussed the Israel-Gaza war, saying he is working tirelessly to get his peace plan for the Middle East approved by all sides to bring an end to the conflict and to bring hostages home.

"Those protesters in the street have a point," he said. "A lot of innocent people being killed on both sides."

_{Aug 20, 12:09 AM}

'Donald Trump is going to find out the power of women in 2024': Biden

Biden brought up reproductive rights as a key election issue this November. He noted that in the Dobbs decision in which the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, the court's majority wrote that women are not without electoral or political power.

"No kidding," Biden said. "MAGA Republicans found out the power of women in 2022. And Donald Trump is going to find out the power of women in 2024. Watch."

_{Aug 20, 12:07 AM}

Biden slams Trump over treatment of veterans

The president slammed his predecessor over his rhetoric on veterans and armed service members.

Biden, whose son Beau served in the military, chastised Trump over reports that he called fallen soldiers "suckers and losers."

"They're not the words of a person not worthy of being commander in chief. Period," he said.

_{Aug 20, 12:03 AM}

Biden pushes for universal background checks, ban on assault rifles

The president turned his attention to the rising gun violence in the country citing stats that showed firearm deaths were the leading cause of deaths among children.

"More died from a bullet than cancer, accidents or anything else in the United States, in America. My God," he said.

Biden spoke about his and Harris' gun control polices and again pushed for a ban on assault rifles and universal background checks.

"If we care about public safety, we need to prevent gun violence," he said.

_{Aug 20, 12:02 AM}

Biden goes after Trump on the border, immigration issues

President Biden is continuing his criticism of his predecessor, accusing him of "lying" about the border.

"Here's what he won't tell you: Trump killed the strongest bipartisan border deal in the history of the United States," Biden said.

Biden went on to slam Trump for his rhetoric toward immigrants, saying Democrats "will not demonize immigrants, saying they're poisoning the blood of America."

He reiterated the party's support for legal immigration and protections for "Dreamers."

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