With the White House behind her, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered an impassioned closing speech to the American people. In an incredibly accelerated election cycle in which Harris had only three months to define herself to voters beyond the Biden administration, she used the speech to spotlight the stark contrast between her values ​​and vision for the country and that of Donald Trump. Even her chosen venue, the Ellipse (site of Donald Trump’s infamous event Speech of January 6 in 2021, where he exhorted his followers to “fight like hell” and preceded an rebel) looked as if it would symbolize the various type of government he offers.

Here are our top 5 takeaways.

Harris says Donald Trump is fascinated about himself

Harris wasted no time in laying out the stakes of the election, saying: “This election is more than just a choice between two parties and two different candidates. “It’s a choice whether we have a country rooted in freedom for every American or one ruled by chaos and division.” She went on to characterize Donald Trump as deeply selfish and focused on revenge against his perceived enemies. “Donald Trump intends to use the United States military against American citizens who simply disagree with him, people he calls, quote, America’s ‘enemy from within.’ This is not a presidential candidate who thinks about how to improve his life. “He is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grief and craving unchecked power.” Unlike Trump, who has an “enemies list,” Harris described herself as someone who has a “bucket list” of things she desires to do for the country.

It’s time to change sides to Division

Unity was one other theme of Harris’ speech. While the country “has become absorbed in too much division, chaos and mutual distrust,” she said, “it doesn’t have to be this way.” Harris encouraged Americans to assume a united country with her on the helm: “We have to stop pointing fingers and start clenching our hands. It is time to turn the page on drama and conflict, fear and division. It is time for a new generation of leadership in America, and I am ready to offer that leadership as the next President of the United States.” If elected, Harris also promised to be a president for all people, even those that disagree with her: “Here’s what I promise you: I will always listen to you, even if you don’t vote for me. I will always tell you the truth, even if it’s hard to hear. I will work every day to build consensus and reach compromise to get things done, and if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf, nothing in the world will stand in my way.”

Harris says a middle-class upbringing inspires presidential priorities

Harris portrayed herself as someone who cared concerning the average American and could connect with them due to her middle-class upbringing. “There’s something about people being treated unfairly or overlooked that, honestly, just blows my mind. I don’t like it. This is what my mother instilled in me: a drive to hold accountable those who use their wealth or power to take advantage of other people, a drive to protect hardworking Americans who are not always seen or heard and who deserve a voice.” At several points in her speech, she recalled memories of her mother and how that will impact her priorities as president. For example, when developing her economic plan, she recalled: “I’ll always remember how our mother saved and how excited she was when she could finally afford to purchase our first house. I remember how excited she was and I do know that owning a home is just not only a guarantee of economic security. It’s about taking pride in your labor, and as president, I’ll fight to assist first-time home buyers make down payments, defeat firms which might be raising rents and constructing thousands and thousands of recent homes. Because of her experience caring for her mother while battling cancer, she knows how expensive it will probably be, so Harris also proposed extending Medicare home health care coverage to seniors to ease the burden on families.

Harris vows to take motion on abortion and immigration

Since becoming the Democratic presidential candidate, Harris has repeatedly advocated for reproductive rights, and in her speech she once more asserted that a woman – not the federal government – has the fitting to make her own decisions about her body. In contrast to what she said was Trump’s plan to ban abortion nationwide, she promised that “as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it when Congress passes legislation to restore reproductive freedom nationwide.” On the heels degrading remarks Last week, Trump spoke out about immigrants during his controversial rally at Madison Square Garden, Harris said: “Politicians must stop treating immigration as an issue to intimidate votes and instead treat it as a serious challenge that we must finally unite to address.” to unravel the issue.” In addition to promising to sign a previously rejected bipartisan immigration bill, she also recognized the worth of immigrants. She promised comprehensive immigration reform: “We must recognize that we are a nation of immigrants, and I will work with Congress to pass immigration reform that includes a workable path to citizenship for hard-working immigrants like farmworkers and Dreamers.”

In a hallmark of the campaign, Harris ended on an optimistic note

Reflecting on her extraordinary journey that led to this moment, Harris said: “I grew up as a child of the civil rights movement. My parents took me in a stroller to marches where crowds of people of all races, creeds, and walks of life gathered to fight for the ideals of freedom and opportunity. I lived the promise of America. I saw how hard our mother worked to give her daughters the same opportunities this country gave her.” She continued: “These United States of America, we will not be a vessel for the plans of would-be dictators… Let us fight for this beautiful country that we love and in seven days we will likely be in power. Each of you has the facility to show the page and begin writing the following chapter of probably the most extraordinary story ever told. While this speech was intended to be her closing argument, it won’t be the last time voters will see her on the campaign trail. On Wednesday, Harris is scheduled to go to three cities in battleground states: Raleigh, North Carolina; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Madison, Wisconsin.