This event has ended. Check here for the latest updates.
What to know about the Democratic convention so far:
- The Democratic National Convention's first night highlighted President Joe Biden's "leadership and legacy," capped off by a speech by the president. He began speaking after more than four minutes of applause.
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, delivered a rousing speech. She smiled and nodded during anti-Trump chants of "Lock him up!"
- Vice President Kamala Harris made an unexpected appearance onstage this evening to give brief remarks praising Biden.
- Outside the convention venue, several dozen protesters broke away from the Coalition to March on the DNC, a group that's against Israel's war in Gaza, and tried to breach a barricade at the closest point along the route to the United Center. Police in riot gear formed a wall and arrested at least four people. Organizers said they believe those protesters were not part of any of the groups involved with the coalition.
Watch President Biden’s full remarks at DNC
Biden encouraged broad support for Harris, touted his own accomplishments and, at times, even joked about his age and the reason he was stepping aside.
Democratic convention wraps for the first day
The convention has concluded for the day — very late.
Fact check: Does Trump support cutting Medicare and Social Security?
Statement
"Trump wants to cut Social Security and Medicare."
Verdict
This is misleading.
Analysis
It's true that Trump has been all over the place on Medicare and Social Security over the years. And he said in March on CNBC that “there’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting."
But shortly after that interview, Trump told Breitbart, "I will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social Security or Medicare," reiterating a call he has made repeatedly over the last few years.
My colleague Sahil Kapur has a great rundown of where Trump has stood on entitlement programs — calling it a "huge Ponzi scheme" and floating raising the benefit age in 2000, praising then-House Speaker Paul Ryan's 2012 plans to cap future Medicare spending, saying during his 2016 bid he'd protect the programs and proposing Social Security cuts while in office but no tangible Medicare cuts.
Biden says he was 'too old to stay as president'
Biden drew a contrast between his being the oldest serving president and his young age when he was elected senator.
Biden said he has been "too young to be in the Senate because I wasn't 30 yet and too old to stay as president.
"I can honestly say I’m more optimistic about the future than I was when I was elected as a 29-year-old United States senator — I mean it," he added.
Harris joins Biden onstage after he finishes remarks
Biden finished his speech just before 12:20 a.m. ET. He was then joined onstage by Harris, first lady Jill Biden, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and members of the extended Biden family, including his children Hunter and Ashley.
No more speeches on the lineup tonight.
'Like many of our best presidents, [Kamala] was also a vice president'
Biden said he knows Harris would be a great president.
"Because like many of our best presidents, she was also a vice president," Biden joked.
"That was a joke, that was a joke," he said.
Fifteen vice presidents, including Biden, have gone on to become president.
Fact check: Did murder rise by 30% under Trump?
Statement
"Trump wants to cut Social Security and Medicare."
Verdict
This is true.
Analysis
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that homicide rose 30% in 2020, the last year of Trump's presidency, while the FBI estimated the rise in murder to be nearly 30%. And while the number may be correct, it's important to note the huge hike occurred during the 2020 pandemic, when American society was upended in many ways.
Biden warns that the threat seen on Jan. 6 is still 'very much alive'
Biden said this will be the first presidential election since Jan. 6, 2021.
"On that day, we almost lost everything about who we are as a country, and that threat, this is not hyperbole, that threat is still very much alive. Donald Trump says he will refuse to accept the election results if he loses again," Biden said.
Biden said the country can't let Trump make the same attempt again.
Pro-Palestinian protesters turn their backs to Biden
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters standing with the Minnesota delegation have turned their backs to Biden during his remarks. They are each holding a hand over their mouths. Seven protesters are holding buttons that say “not another bomb” and have “arms embargo now” written in red on their hands.
Asma Mohammed, one of the uncommitted delegates from Minneapolis, said the plan was intentionally not to interrupt and that they wanted to protest Biden. But they will prob not do same when Harris speaks because they feel like she’s moving in the right direction.
Biden speech exceeds length of his 2012 VP speech
Biden's speech hit the 38-minute mark, officially surpassing the length of his 2012 vice presidential acceptance speech.
The speech is also longer than his 2020 nomination acceptance speech and his 2008 VP acceptance speech.