Quick Hit:

President Joe Biden took the stage Monday night to deliver a prime time farewell address to the Democratic National Convention; however, he found himself sidelined and pushed out of prime time due to the rancorous receptions to Hillary Clinton and a surprise appearance by Kamala Harris—a sidelining reminiscent of Democrat pressure to push the president out of the 2024 race.

Key Details:

• Biden’s farewell address, which was intended as a centerpiece of the evening, was overshadowed by the receptions for Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris earlier in the night, leaving Biden to deliver his remarks to a smaller audience than expected.

• During his address, Biden attempted to downplay the circumstances of his departure, claiming, "All those people who said I should step down, that's not true." However, his insistence seemed at odds with the reality of the pressure he faced from within his own party, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who the Trump campaign noted looked "extremely guilty" during chants of "We Love Joe."

• While Biden focused on rallying the party inside the venue, the situation outside was far less controlled. Earlier in the day, anti-Israel protests escalated into clashes with law enforcement as demonstrators broke through a security fence, leading to four arrests.

Diving Deeper:

President Joe Biden’s farewell address at the Democratic National Convention was supposed to be a significant moment for the outgoing president, but it was overshadowed and delayed by the  receptions given to Hillary Clinton and a surprise appearance by Vice President Kamala Harris. Originally scheduled for prime time, Biden’s speech was pushed to a later slot, starting well after many viewers on the East Coast had gone to bed. The sidelining was all too familiar, as it echoed the pressure from top Democrats that led Biden to bow out of the 2024 presidential race, making way for Harris.

Despite the delay, Biden thanked his supporters and doubled down his commitment to the country in his lameduck term. "It’s been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your president," Biden said, with tears in his eyes. He also took the opportunity to endorse Kamala Harris fully, calling her selection as his running mate "the best decision I made in my whole career."

During his address, Biden also attempted to downplay the circumstances of his departure, claiming, "All those people who said I should step down, that's not true." However, his insistence seemed at odds with the reality of the pressure he faced from within his own party, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who the Trump campaign noted looked "extremely guilty" during chants of "We Love Joe." 

While Biden focused on his legacy inside the venue, the situation outside told a different story. Anti-Israel protests erupted into clashes with law enforcement as demonstrators broke through a security fence, leading to four arrests. The protesters, who were protesting President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the Democratic Party’s support for Israel, chanted slogans like "Genocide Joe" and accused Biden of complicity in alleged war crimes in Gaza. The situation led to four arrests.

As Biden addressed the crowd, he attempted to paint his presidency as a time of significant progress, touting legislative achievements like the bipartisan infrastructure law and the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Yet, his remarks were also marked by moments of defiance, particularly when he dismissed rumors about his anger over stepping down, insisting, "I love the job, but I love my country more."

Biden’s speech, which ended with him standing alongside Harris and his family, including his newly convicted son Hunter Biden, who has been the subject of numerous controversies, had the air of a nomination acceptance rather than a farewell. Biden urged the audience to support Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the upcoming election, despite even the Democratic Party platform referencing "Biden's second term" 19 times.

As the night concluded, the outgoing president’s legacy appeared to be increasingly defined by the actions of others, particularly the ascendant Harris, who even herself appeared to be upstaged by Hillary Clinton. Biden, who once commanded the full attention of the party, now found himself playing a supporting role in a convention that seems to have already moved on from his presidency.