DNC Day 1: President Biden says 'America is winning' and Trump is a 'loser'

President Joe Biden will be Monday night's keynote speaker.

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Last updated: Tuesday, August 20, 2024 7:00AM GMT
Biden delivers rousing speech on 1st night of DNC as Dems look forward
President Joe Biden took the stage at the DNC Monday night to cheers and chants as he gave the keynote speech on the convention's first night.

CHICAGO -- The Democratic National Convention is set to begin Monday, Aug. 19 in Chicago -- during which Democratic Party delegates are set to support Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after their unconventional path to the party's nomination.

During the four-day convention, Democratic heavyweights are set to fire up the base and rally behind Harris, who was officially certified as the Democratic presidential nominee earlier this month after getting the vast majority of delegate votes in a virtual roll call.

ABC News will have special coverage of the DNC -- including primetime coverage from 10 p.m. until 11 p.m. ET on ABC every day of the conventions, and on ABC News Live from 7 p.m. until 12 a.m. ET.

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Here's how the news is developing.
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Aug 19, 2024, 8:21 AM

How can I watch the DNC?

The DNC will stream on multiple platforms -- including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. The official live stream of the 2024 Democratic National Convention will be available on its website.

Prime-time programming will air live from 6:30 p.m.-11 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. CT on Monday and 7 p.m.-11 p.m. ET/6 p.m.-10 p.m. CT on Tuesday-Thursday, according to the DNC.

ABC News will have special coverage of the DNC -- including primetime coverage from 10 p.m. until 11 p.m. ET on ABC every day of the conventions, and on ABC News Live from 7 p.m. until 12 a.m. ET.

Hulu will also have live reports available all day, and ABC News Live will have robust coverage each day of the convention.

ABC News Digital and 538 will live blog the latest from the convention and provide analysis as the convention events unfold.

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Aug 20, 2024, 2:35 AM GMT

Hillary Clinton gets standing ovation as she fires up crowd

The crowd at the United Center got on their feet when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took the stage where she supported Harris and applauded Biden.

"There is a lot of energy in this room -- just like there is a lot of energy in this country," she said.

Clinton saluted Biden, calling him "democracy's champion," and praising his years of service.

The crowd at the United Center got on their feet when former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took the stage where she supported Harris and applauded Biden.

"He brought dignity, decency and competence back to the White House," she said.

Clinton talked about the long history of bringing women's voices heard and the number of glass ceilings that were broken, including her 2016 presidential nomination.

"I wish my mother and Kamala's mother could see us. They would say, 'Keep going,'" she said.

The crowd chanted "Keep going," in response.

She also took a jab a Trump, joking that he fell asleep during his own trial. The crowd shouted "lock him up," turning the tables on the chant used at Trump rallies against Clinton.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.

Clinton smiled as the crowd chanted.

Clinton said that as president, Harris would be a fighter for all Americans, and cares about America.

"I know what it takes, and I can tell you, as commander in chief, Kamala won't disrespect our military and our veterans," she said.

Clinton told the crowd that they are still needed to fight for every vote and not just depend on the poll numbers.

"When a barrier falls for one of us, it falls and clears the way for all of us. So for the next 78 days, we need to work harder than we ever have," she said.

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Aug 20, 2024, 2:06 AM GMT

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez riles up crowd while going after Trump

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez riled up the crowd when she went after Trump while urging voters to make history in electing Harris as president.

"Chicago, we have to help her win, because we know that Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends," she said.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez riled up the crowd when she went after Trump while urging voters to make history in electing Harris as president.

"And I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life," she said to rapturous applause.

"The truth is, Don, you cannot love this country if you only fight for the wealthy and big business. To love this country is to fight for its people," she continued.

Ocasio-Cortez briefly mentioned the Israel-Hamas war, saying Harris is "working tirelessly" to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and bring hostages home.

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Aug 20, 2024, 2:53 AM GMT

'Trump's a scab': UAW president

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain took the stage and began by thanking President Joe Biden for joining the picket lines during their strikes against the major auto companies last year.

Fain praised Vice President Kamala Harris for her years of supporting the UAW and for fighting for workers' rights.

"It's real simple. Kamala Harris is one of us. She's a fighter for the working class. And Donald Trump is a scab," Fain said to the crowd who chanted "Trump is a scab."

Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers, speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.
Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers, speaks during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago.

Fain revealed a shirt with that statement along with "Vote Harris" midway through his speech citing Nelly's 2002 song "Hot in Here."

"It's hot in here because you're fired up and you're fed up and the American working class is fired up and fed up," he said.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain took the stage and began by thanking President Joe Biden for joining the picket lines during their strikes against the major auto companies last year.

Fain also called out Trump's rhetoric blaming economic problems on several groups including immigrants and LGTBQ groups.

"Trump is pushing divide and conquer tactics of the rich. It's the oldest trick in the book," he said.

"They do that because they want working-class people to be divided into focus and keep the focus off the one true enemy: corporate greed. The rich think we're stupid, but working class Americans see this for what it is," Fain added.

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Aug 20, 2024, 1:56 AM GMT

NBA coach Steve Kerr greeted with applause

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr got a standing ovation when he walked on stage, just over a week after he coached the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team won gold.

Chants of "USA" stretched across the convention floor as he started speaking.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr got a standing ovation when he walked on stage, just over a week after he coached the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team won gold.

"It was the proudest moment of my life," he said, recounting the team's victory in Paris earlier this month.

Kerr called the audience to action -- asking the country to follow in the footsteps of the American basketball team's gold medal performance in Paris.

"After the results are tallied [on election] night, we can, in the words of the great Steph Curry, we can tell Donald Trump, 'night-night.'"