Kamala Harris wraps up the DNC with a powerful yet empty acceptance speech, addressing Trump, Israel, and her record

Vice President Kamala Harris closed the Democratic National Convention (DNC) by accepting a historic presidential nomination with a powerful but empty speech where she talked about her political journey, the values instilled in her by her family, the most important electoral issues, and, as seemed to be a theme throughout the event, former President Donald Trump.

"On behalf of the people, on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender or the language your grandmother speaks. On behalf of my mother, and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey. On behalf of Americans like the people I grew up with — people who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another. On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America," she said.

Harris' nomination as the Democratic candidate is a milestone in U.S. political history, as she is the first black woman and the first Asian-American to lead a major party ticket.

In addition, if she wins in November, Harris would also be the first Indian-American and the first woman to be president.

During her speech, Harris sought to cover as much ground as possible, speaking on key issues such as immigration, abortion, the economy, and social services. However, her proposals were shallow, with a speech full of platitudes without clear solutions to the most voters' immediate problems.

Where Harris did do in-depth was in her personal story and also in the great words she dedicated to President Joe Biden, who stepped aside and begrudgingly handed her the nomination on a silver platter after internal pressure from his party.

"When I think about the path that we have traveled together, Joe, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show, and your character is inspiring. And Doug and I love you and Jill, and are forever thankful to you both," Harris said.

To her running mate, Tim Walz, she also sent a message that drew cheers from the crowd, "You are going to be an incredible vice president."

The inevitable mention of Trump

Before a packed United Center, Harris, emulating the vast majority of Democratic speakers, did not miss the opportunity to attack her political opponent.

First, she asked the audience to imagine an untethered Trump in the White House, suggesting that a second term would be more "radical" than his first.

"onsider what he intends to do if we give him power again. Consider his explicit intent to set free violent extremists who assaulted those law enforcement officers at the Capitol. His explicit intent to jail journalists, political opponents and anyone he sees as the enemy. His explicit intent to deploy our active duty military against our own citizens," Harris said as the audience responded with murmurs and boos for Trump. 

Later, the vice president sought to link Trump to the now-famed Project 2025, a sprawling government program created by members of the Heritage Foundation that the media and Democrats have tried to link to Trump's campaign.

Harris said such a government plan will "pull our country back to the past."

"But America, we are not going back," she said.

Later, Harris escalated the attacks, making them increasingly personal and aggressive.

"In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences — but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious," she said before moving on to the former president's legal cases and the events of Jan. 6, 2021.

"Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes. When he failed, he sent an armed mob to the U.S. Capitol, where they assaulted law enforcement officers. When politicians in his own party begged him to call off the mob and send help, he did the opposite — he fanned the flames," she said.

"He was found guilty of fraud by a jury of everyday Americans, and separately — and separately found liable for committing sexual abuse," she insisted.

Harris tackles foreign policy ambiguously

Harris also addressed a complex issue for Democrats on foreign policy: Israel.

While she said she will support all U.S. allies, including Ukraine in its war with Russia, regarding Israel, she asserted, "I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself."

However, she immediately also sent a message to the "Palestinian people," advertising that she will defend their "self-determination."

"At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. President Biden and I are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination," Harris emphasized.

The vice president then assured that, if she wins, she will be "not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend our forces and our interests against Iran" and its allies in the Middle East.

On another key foreign policy issue, Harris referred to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, whom she used to take aim at Trump.

"Trump, on the other hand, threatened to abandon NATO. He encouraged Putin to invade our allies," Harris said.

The Trump campaign, reacting live to the speech, responded by saying, "WRONG. President Trump made NATO stronger than it's ever been. And last time we checked, Putin invaded Ukraine on your watch."

Harris misrepresents Supreme Court ruling

During her address, the vice president further misrepresented a Supreme Court ruling by falsely claiming that the court made Donald Trump "immune from criminal prosecution."

"onsider the power he will have, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution," Harris said. "Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails."

Harris's statement was out of context and did not correspond to the facts. The Supreme Court's ruling weeks ago did not grant Trump or former presidents blanket immunity from criminal prosecution, but rather granted them immunity for many official activities they do while in office.

The Supreme Court justices were clear in not taking a position on Trump's actions and left this decision to a lower court.

Harris sends a message to Republicans and appeals for unity

Unlike other speakers, Harris did make a clear call to Republicans, appealing for unity at the start and close of her speech.

"I know there are people of various political views watching tonight," she said after accepting the nomination. "And I want you to know, I promise to be a president for all Americans. You can always trust me to put country above party and self."

That was near the beginning, but towards the end, she played the reconciliation card again, citing a lesson she learned from her mother.

"Well, my mother had another lesson she used to teach: never let anyone tell you who you are. You show them who you are," Harris said. "America, let us show each other and the world who we are and what we stand for: freedom, opportunity, compassion, dignity, fairness and endless possibilities."

In particular, she said Americans "have so much more in common than what separates us" and that "none of us has to fail for all of us to succeed."

She later charged back at Trump and J.D. Vance, singling them out for criticizing America's current affairs.