Kamala Harris introduced himself to the country he hopes to lead in what was the highlight of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, and despite rumors of possible surprise guests, the only appearance of Beyoncé it was through the speakers.
In the end, the most traditional moment of the convention was when the candidate, her running mate and their families were showered with cheers from their supporters on television screens.
There was an atmosphere of expectation as the night unfolded, and not just because of Harris. For days, there were rumors of an appearance by megastars like Taylor Swift o Beyoncé, whose theme “Freedom” has been adopted by the vice president as her campaign anthem.
“If she’s not there, they better find something,” NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie said. An NBC reporter wandering around the convention asked delegates what they would think about a Beyoncé appearance.
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, who was seated next to the stage, noted shortly before Harris’ appearance that a curtain blocked a previously absent view of people milling around backstage.
Rumors were spreading on social media to the point that Mitt Romney the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, posted on X: “Contrary to false rumors, I’m not the surprise guest in the DNC tonight. My guess is it’ll be Beyoncé or Taylor Swift. Very disappointing, I know.”
Emmy Ruizthe White House director of political strategy and outreach, posted a bee emoji on her X account that day. “Is this a signal for the ‘Bey-hive?’” Though she quickly replied, “Sorry guys, my 6-year-old took my phone.”
Maybe It was all a jokebut there was a danger in that. Would people see the convention waiting for the superstar and feel disappointed if he wasn’t there? And if he did appear,would overshadow the Democratic presidential candidate on the most important night of her professional life?
In the end, the Hollywood Reporter posted a story on his Instagram account about a half hour before Harris took the stage, with “Freedom” playing over the sound system, quoting a representative for the singer as saying: “Beyoncé was never scheduled to perform. The information about a performance was false.”
Entertainment was mixed between political speeches with appearances by Stevie WonderPink, John LegendThe Chicks, Lil Jon y Jason Isbell.
After a week in which keynote speakers appeared past prime time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), for weary East Coast viewers, Harris appeared shortly after 22:30 hours and spoke for 37 minutes.
It was a tacit contrast with his opponent Donald Trump. The former president accepted the nomination of the Republican Party last month with a 92-minute speech that ended after midnight (Eastern time).
Several commentators emphasized the energetic nature of the speech Harris, particularly on foreign policy. “People have been talking about her as a cheerful warrior,” said CNN’s Audie Cornish. “Today we hear her as a warrior.”
Fox News’ Brit Hume said it was a speech President Biden could have given before ending his re-election bid, “but he couldn’t have delivered it with the face of the crowd.”Harris force. It was very strong.” “Tonight you heard a inspired woman “by her mother to dream big and by her father to be brave,” said ABC News analyst Donna Brazile, former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
CBS News’ Robert Costa agreed with Harris that this was a new chapter in the story American. “But we’re seeing something that could be problematic for the country as it grapples with two parties using the definition of what it really means to be an American.”
Meanwhile, Trump maintained a running commentary on his Twitter account. Truth Social as she spoke. “So much about children, we have to get to the border, inflation and crime!” she wrote.