No room for political violence in US, says Biden as he passes torch to Harris

An emotional US President Joe Biden passed the torch to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris with a hug on Monday, saying he gave everything for his country in a bittersweet farewell speech at the party's convention in Chicago.

US President Joe Biden roared there is "no place” in America for political violence. “You cannot say you love your country only when you win,” Biden said.

"America, America, I gave my best to you," the 81-year-old Biden said, quoting a patriotic hymn during a nearly hour-long address that ran through his achievements while urging voters to back his vice president against Donald Trump in November.

Harris joined him on stage after the speech and the pair embraced, as the crowd gave Biden a rapturous reception following his stunning decision less than a month ago to drop out of the 2024 White House race.

In a remarkable turnaround, Harris has reenergized the party and wiped out Republican rival Trump's lead in the polls, but Biden insisted that he was not bitter about stepping aside.

Instead, as he contemplates the imminent end of a five-decade political career, he said that he had done what he thought best to ensure that his nemesis Trump does not return to the Oval Office.

"I love the job, but I love my country more. I love my country more," said Biden. "And all this talk about how I'm angry at all those people who said I should step down -- that's not true."

Both Biden and Harris appeared to wipe away a tear as the US leader won a huge four-minute ovation when he first took to the stage, following an introduction by First Lady Jill Biden and his daughter Ashley.

Several members of the audience were also in tears as Biden made his farewell speech, before leaving the stage to the strains of the song "Higher Love."

- 'Gave my best' -

And Harris had earlier made a surprise appearance -- Democratic nominees don't normally speak until the final day of the convention -- to heap lavish tribute on her boss.

"I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president Joe Biden," said Harris, who was wearing a tan suit and took to the stage to Beyonce's "Freedom."

"We are forever grateful to you."

It was undoubtedly a difficult swan song for Biden, but he insisted he would be the "best volunteer" for Harris's campaign -- knowing perhaps that his legacy depends on her beating Trump.

But he couldn't quite let go of the presidency, with his speech focusing more on his own record in office than the future under a President Harris.

Biden listed his proudest achievements including on the economy and health care, but above all for healing the "soul of America" after Trump's time in office and the pro-Trump January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

"Donald Trump calls America a failing nation... He says we're losing. He's the loser," he said, also referring to Trump as a "convicted felon" after the Republican was found guilty of doctoring business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star.

Despite his low popularity ratings and the debate debacle against Trump that led him to step aside, Biden again insisted he'd given his all.

"I made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you," he said.

- Protests against Gaza war -

As he has been so often in his five-decade-long political journey, Biden was surrounded by family at the end of his speech.

"Joe and I have been together for almost 50 years. And still, there are moments when I fall in love with him all over again," the first lady said in a speech introducing him.

Monday's first night of the convention was an emotional one on many levels, and for many of the key players.

Hillary Clinton, who lost against Trump in 2016 in her own bid to become America's first woman president, backed Harris to finally break the glass ceiling.

"Something is happening in America, you can feel it -- something we've worked for and dreamed of for a long time," the former secretary of state and first lady said.

Earlier, protests against Israel's war in Gaza had shadowed the opening of the convention, underscoring what remains a potential vote-loser for Democrats among left-wingers and Arab Americans.

A group of demonstrators broke through the outer security fence of the convention after splitting off from a larger protest of thousands of people.

Police in blue helmets with shields and carrying black batons prevented them from getting to the inner cordon.

Trump, meanwhile, has been sent into a tailspin by the sudden change at the top of the Democratic ticket.

While Democrats are in Chicago, the Republican will spend the week crisscrossing the country.

In the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Monday, he highlighted what he called Harris's "craziness" and said she "has no idea what the hell she's doing" on the economy.

'We heart Joe': tearful Democrats hail Biden

It was the hero's send-off he had hoped to defer for another four years but when it came, any lingering bitterness seemed forgotten for a cathartic hour as Joe Biden basked in the adulation of his party faithful.

Chicago's United Center crackled with pride, love and not a few tears as the US president stepped out to deliver his farewell speech Monday at the Democratic National Convention.

"The ending was like a fairy tale, because it seemed like a changing of the guard," said Azziem Underwood, 64, from Seattle, Washington.

"He seemed good. I was like, 'Oh, why did he step down? He was excellent today.'"

Flanked by First Lady Jill Biden and heir apparent Kamala Harris, as well as members of both families, the veteran Democrat's final bow marked at long last the passing of the torch for a politician who has been in the public eye for more than half a century.

Before his grand entrance, the vibe was distinctly Spring Break as speakers on the undercard led chants of "USA! USA!" and the audience in the packed venue waved "We heart Joe" banners.

There was a smattering of celebrity with Tony Goldwyn -- who played a Republican president in political drama "Scandal" -- taking on hosting duties while Chicago Bulls legend and current Olympic men's basketball coach Steve Kerr's speech was a slam dunk.

Hillary Clinton and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez -- a Democratic grandee and a rising star -- electrified the crowd as they thanked Biden for his leadership and exhorted voters to back Harris.

- 'Thank you, Joe' -

The vice president herself earned her own deafening cheer as she made a surprise appearance, taking the stage to laud Biden for his "lifetime of service."

Donald Trump was always going to be the villain of the night, and delegates booed dutifully as giant video screens above them beamed out images of the former president's more notorious interviews.

It was the kind of atmosphere that buttoned-up Democrats once scorned in Trump rallies, but the crowd was all-in, even singing along to the middle-of-the-road country music.

Then came the main event, and the crowd raised the roof.

An emotional Biden took the stage, embracing his daughter Ashley, who had introduced him, and wiping his eyes with a tissue as Democrats broke into raucous chants of "We love Joe" and "Thank you Joe" that continued for around four minutes.

Members of the Biden entourage -- not to mention several delegates on the floor -- wept openly.

Biden, 81, had assumed he would be closing out the convention, not kicking things off. But he exited the White House race last month amid growing concern over his age and fears that he would not be able to stop Trump from reentering the White House.

Nevertheless thousands of Democrats clung to every word of an uncharacteristically vigorous Biden, clapping wildly as he forcefully made the case for Harris to carry on his mission.

- 'Tears in my eyes' -

"I thought the speech was amazing. I thought Joe did a great job pumping everybody up, running through his accomplishments, Kamala's accomplishments, just getting everybody energized and out to vote," said Alexis Rossum, 32, from Louisiana.

"I think it was great. The atmosphere was pretty electric. A few times I even had tears in my eyes."

The wild applause in the arena was an act of veneration for a much-loved, ever-present figure in Democratic politics.

But it was also a release -- a collective exhalation from activists who had spent months fretting over the direction the 2024 election was taking.

For all Biden's good grace, there was little doubt among delegates who spoke to AFP ahead of the speech that he is still smarting over the manner of his exit, driven from the top of the ticket by allies from whom he had expected loyalty.

The one he reportedly blames the most -- former House speaker Nancy Pelosi -- apparently hadn't got the message.

"#ThankYouJoe," she said on X, along with a picture of her holding up one of the heart banners.