Kamala Harris touted her foreign policy resume as vice president to draw a contrast to what a second Donald Trump presidency would bring — and got some of the loudest applause of the night.
“We must also be steadfast in advancing our security and values abroad,” Harris said. “As vice president, I have confronted threats to our security, negotiated with foreign leaders, strengthened our alliances and engaged with our brave troops overseas.”
She promised to ensure the U.S. “has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world.”
Harris also said her administration would focus on leading the world on advancements in space and artificial intelligence to stay ahead of China.
Trump, on the other hand, threatened to abandon NATO and encouraged Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Washington’s allies, Harris said.
“Five days before Russia attacked Ukraine, I met with President Zelenskyy to warn him about Russia’s plan to invade. I helped mobilize a global response over 50 countries to defend against Putin’s aggression,” Harris said.
Ever since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid, Harris’ campaign has been increasingly highlighting her role in his administration’s foreign policy. Aside from her time as vice president, she has little experience on the world stage.
But she largely is expected to continue the Biden administration’s foreign policy objectives — and is making clear her differences to Trump.
“I will not cozy up to tyrants and dictators like Kim Jong Un who are rooting for Trump,” Harris said. “They know he is easy to manipulate with flattery and favors. They know Trump won’t hold autocrats accountable because he wants to be an autocrat himself.”
Balloons are inflated on-site at the convention center starting the Wednesday and Thursday before the convention, according to a DNC official. But the prep work starts months in advance and requires a team of more than 100 volunteers and staffers to make sure “every balloon is positioned perfectly for maximum impact.”
The 2024 DNC balloon drop featured assorted red, white, and blue balloons, both standard 9-inch and large 24-inch balloons.
We also spotted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz playing with Kamala Harris’ grand-niece, tossing back and forth a giant balloon.
