An emotional US President Joe Biden wiped away tears as he prepared to deliver a farewell speech to his party's members on Monday.
Ahead of what's been billed as the outgoing President's swansong, he was introduced to the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago by his daughter Ashley.
A visibly moved Joe Biden was greeted by a more than four-minute-long ovation and chants of "thank you Joe", with the 81-year-old saying: "I love you."
He warned democracy "must be preserved" and urged the crowd to get behind Kamala Harris, who replaced him as the party's candidate for the November election a month ago.
"Democracy has prevailed, democracy has delivered and now democracy must be preserved," he said, later referring to Republican candidate Donald Trump as a "loser".
US President Joe Biden pauses before addressing supporters at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 19-8-24. Image: Associated Press / AlamyHe added the US is at an "inflection point" and this election will determine the fate of the nation and the world for "decades to come".
President Biden abandoned his bid to remain as president a month ago after a series of gaffes and a disastrous debate performance against Mr Trump, with Kamala Harris stepping in as candidate.
US First Lady Jill Biden said her husband dug "deep into his soul" when he decided not to run for re-election, adding Ms Harris's "courage" and "leadership" will win the race to the White House.
Ms Harris herself made a surprise appearance, drawing cheers from the crowd as she vowed to defeat Mr Trump in the November election.
"Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear and let us always remember, when we fight we win," the US Vice President said in brief remarks.
She also paid tribute to President Biden, thanking him for "historic leadership" and a "lifetime of service" to the nation.
US President Joe Biden with Democratic presidential candidate and Vice-President Kamala Harris during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, 19-8-24. Image: Abaca Press / AlamyHilary Clinton, whose loss to Mr Trump in the 2016 election ended her hopes of becoming the first female US president, said Ms Harris can succeed where she could not.
"Kamala has the character, experience and vision to lead us forward," she said, after entering to a standing ovation.
Mrs Clinton also took shots at her former rival, who became the first former US president to be criminally convicted in May.
"Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made his own kind of history, the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions," she said.
Gaza protests
While Democrats gathered for their convention, thousands of people assembled at a nearby park to protest the party's military support for Israel's war on Gaza.
A splinter group left the main march and breached a security perimeter near the convention centre with riot police detaining four people.
It comes as ceasefire talks are expected to resume on Wednesday in Cairo backed by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
The onslaught has claimed the lives of over 40,000 Palestinians in the enclave, most of them women and children and injured more than 92,000, according to the Gazan health ministry.
Close to 90% of the population has been displaced – many forced to move several times.
The United Nations said that since October last year, 86% of the Gaza Strip – about 314 square kilometres – has been placed under evacuation orders.
Gaza has been under an intense Israeli military offensive since October 7th terror attacks by Hamas on communities in southern Israel that left some 1,200 dead and more than 200 taken hostage.
As of August 9th 115 hostages remain captive, including some declared dead and whose remains are still in Gaza.
Reporting by: IRN
