In a charged and emotional farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, President Joe Biden delivered a scathing critique of former President Donald Trump, labelling him a “loser” and vigorously defending his own legacy. 

Mr Biden, who recently announced his decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race, received a thunderous ovation from the crowd, which chanted “We love you, Joe,” in a show of solidarity.

“Donald Trump says we are losing, but he is the loser,” Mr Biden declared, drawing a stark contrast between his administration’s achievements and what he described as the failures of the Trump presidency. “He is dead wrong. Name a country in the world that does not think we are the leading nation in the world. Who could lead the world if not us?”

Donald Trump Slammed 

Mr Biden did not hold back in his condemnation of Mr Trump, particularly in relation to the former president’s alleged disrespect for military service members.

“He called soldiers who gave their lives for this country, suckers and losers. Who does he think he is?” Mr Biden asked. “Trump bows down to (Vladimir) Putin. I never have and Kamala Harris will never do it.”

Mr Biden criticised Mr Trump’s “America First” doctrine, which he said had damaged the nation’s global image, contrasting his own administration’s efforts to unite Europe and counter Russian aggression. He cited the expansion of NATO, with the addition of Finland and Sweden, as an example to the success of his foreign policy.

Sharing an anecdote, Mr Biden revealed that former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, just days before his death, had called him to express concern over Russia’s resurgence under Putin, likening the current situation to the days of Napoleon. “Putin thought he could take Kyiv in three days. Three years later, Ukraine is still free,” Mr Biden said. 

Emotional Joe Biden 

The 81-year-old Biden, visibly moved, also spoke at length about the challenges he faced and the progress made during his presidency. His speech was punctuated by moments of reflection on the state of American democracy and the stakes of the upcoming election. “We are in a battle for the very soul of America,” Mr Biden said.

Kamala Harris, America’s first female, Black, and South Asian vice president, has taken a lead over Mr Trump in the polls.

In her brief but powerful remarks, Ms Harris expressed gratitude to Mr Biden, saying, “We are forever grateful to you.” She praised his leadership and commitment to the country, setting the stage for her own formal acceptance of the party’s nomination later in the week. With Beyonce’s “Freedom” blaring from loudspeakers during her entrance on stage, Ms Harris said, “I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president Joe Biden.” 

‘Hate Was On The March’

Mr Biden, joined by his wife Jill and daughter Ashley, spoke candidly about his reasons for running in 2020, recalling the violence during the US Capitol Hill riots and a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville  in 2021 and Mr Trump’s response that “there were very fine people on both sides.” 

“Hate was on the march in America. Old ghosts in new garments,” Mr Biden said. “There is no place in America for political violence, none. You cannot say you love your country only when you win.”

Mr Biden also addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a subject of intense debate and protest both within the United States and around the world. He spoke of the urgent need to bring hostages home and end the war in Gaza, acknowledging the suffering on both sides of the conflict. “We are working around the clock to reunite hostages with families and end the civilian suffering in Gaza,” Mr Biden said.

He also expressed empathy for the protestors demanding an end to the violence. “Those protestors out in the streets have a point. A lot of people have been killed on both sides,” Mr Biden said.

The case – being investigated by the CBI — has thrown up multiple issues including sanctity of evidence, rule of law, safety of healthcare professionals and the big picture issue of women’s security in the workplace. It has also put the ruling Trinamool Congress under pressure, with women – the staunch constituency of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – being up in arms.
The probe was handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation a week ago after an order from the Calcutta High Court. The court’s decision came after the woman’s parents, unhappy with the police investigation, filed an appeal. The order overrode an assurance by the Chief Minister that the Central agency will be called in if the police failed to crack the case by August 18.  
The case took a massive political turn after the Mamata Banerjee government transferred the RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandip Ghosh a few hours after he resigned. Stung by adverse comments on social media, Ghosh had stepped down not just from the post, but also government service. He has been sent on long leave by the High Court.
Making its displeasure clear, the High Court said, “Even assuming the resignation was not accepted, the least that can be expected from a responsible higher official of the concerned department is to immediately relieve the Principal from his duties and not assign him any other duty of equal responsibility”.
Questions have been raised against the police handling of the case since the beginning — including the delay in allowing the women’s parents to see the body, the postmortem report, and the prompt arrest of a civic volunteer.
While ordering a CBI probe, the High Court had said, “Even after a lapse of five days there appears to be no significant progress in the investigation… we would be well-justified in accepting the plea raised by the writ petitioners, more particularly, the parents of the victim that there is every possibility that the evidence will be destroyed and the witnesses will be influenced”.
The postmortem report said the woman’s body bore 16 external and nine internal injuries. There was no word about any broken bones, rumours about which had flooded social media. There was no mention of 150 mg semen or gangrape, though on and off the record, doctors have commented that it is not possible for one attacker to inflict such grievous injuries.
The BJP has been alleging that the administration and the police have colluded in a massive cover-up. Their allegation got a boost after a midnight attack on the hospital on August 15, as the statewide women’s “Reclaim the Night” demonstration was on. As the 40-plus mob wrecked the emergency department, the BJP said it was another attempt at obliterating evidence.
After a 36-hour shift, the second-year postgrad had gone to an empty seminar room alone on Thursday night to get some rest as the hospital has no on-call room. Her partially clothed body, bearing multiple injuries, was found there the next morning. The prime suspect is Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police who was stationed at the police outpost at the hospital and had access to all departments.
The CBI has now been questioning Sandip Ghosh – there have been four sessions. The accused will also undergo lie-detector test soon, sources have said.  Turning up the heat, Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said, “It has been five days and there has not been a single update from the CBI. Also, the only arrest in the case is the accused caught by Kolkata Police”.