President Joe Biden was the opening act for Vice President Kamala Harris when the two appeared at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual gala in Washington.
The outgoing president received a lifetime achievement award at the group’s Phoenix Awards dinner before ceding the podium to the Democratic nominee.
The 81-year-old made a small mistake in his presentation.
“I was vice president to the first black president and a former member of the CBC. I am president alongside the first black president, a former member of the CBC,” Biden said, dropping the word “vice.” “And God willing, she will become the first woman in the United States of America.”
Harris then came out on stage in a long black sequined dress, a departure from her usual blazers, pantsuits and Chuck Taylors.
President Joe Biden (left) introduced Vice President Kamala Harris (right) at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual gala on Saturday night in Washington, DC.
The Democratic candidate wore a long black sequined dress to address thousands of people at the Washington Convention Center.
Vice President Kamala Harris ditched her Chuck Taylor sneakers and blazers and donned a daring sequin dress to head to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards Dinner.
She was immediately interrupted by a “skee wee” chant, a whistle-like call used by members of her AKA sorority.
The vice president praised members of all the “divine nine” fraternities and sororities and her HBCU brothers and sisters before announcing her time working with Biden.
“It’s been an honor for me to serve as his vice president. And I can tell you that I’ve worked very closely with him, whether in the Oval Office or the Situation Room, Joe Biden is always fighting for the American people,” she said.
“And I know that history will show what we all know here: He has been one of the most transformative presidents in American history,” Harris said, thanking him for “all that you are and all that you have yet to do.”
It was equally a love affair when Biden spoke of Harris.
“Kamala Harris meets the highest standards of character. I have worked with her, I know her, I trust her, and I will be proud to stand on the steps of the United States Capitol and be sworn in as President of the United States of America.”
At the dinner, Biden devoted much of his speech to attacking the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump.
President Joe Biden spoke first during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation gala on Saturday night, criticizing GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance for insisting that Haitian immigrants were eating pets.
President Joe Biden (left) received a lifetime achievement award from Rep. Terri Sewell (center) and Rep. Steven Horsford at Saturday’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Gala in D.C.
Actress and comedian Sherri Shepherd (left) and Roy Wood Jr. (right), known for his work on The Daily Show, were chosen as the evening’s emcees.
He attacked Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, for insisting that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating people’s pets.
“This is wrong. This has to stop,” the president said.
Regarding Trump’s broader MAGA movement, Biden warned: “Let’s be clear: There are old ghosts in new clothes trying to seize your power and extremists seeking your freedom.”
“It makes voting and counting difficult, it closes doors to opportunities, it attacks affirmative action and the values of diversity, equity and inclusion,” he continued. “It bans books, it erases history.”
He criticised his ‘predecessor’ for praising those involved on January 6 and trying to send in the military to stop protests after the death of George Floyd in May 2020.
“He says that immigrants, Black and Brown immigrants, poison the lifeblood of our country,” Biden said of Trump.
“Any president should reject hate in America and incite it, not incite it,” the president added.
Harris took a lighter tone with Trump, ridiculing him (as she has since Tuesday’s debate) for an answer he gave about whether he had a health care plan.
“We have a health plan, not just ‘concepts of a plan,'” she told the crowd, who applauded her. “Concepts,” she said again.
The CBC event drew thousands of black Americans from across the country.
Harris thanked them in advance for mobilizing people to vote.
“I truly believe that America is ready to turn the page on the politics of division and hatred, and to do so, our nation has the leadership here in this room,” he said.