House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ moving political speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention addressed all Americans on Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign against Donald Trump. He cleanly utilizes a plethora of rhetorical strategies to boldly convince American voters to make the logical decision and elect her and Coach Tim Walz in the November election.
Throughout the patriotic speech, Jeffries endorses Harris and Walz, investing in their campaign for the betterment of the United States of America. To begin, he approaches the stage with great humility, honorably addressing the audience. Jeffries expresses his undying support, applying pathos and ethos to commence his proclamation. He emphasizes how prideful he stands “as an American” supporting the democratic nominees, all the while giving credit to the House Democrats who remain “hard at work.”
Jeffries expressively claims that Harris exemplifies the best characteristics for president and will fight for the people. He utilizes repetition, asserting that “[she] is a courageous leader, a compassionate leader, a common sense leader,” to recite the traits she holds as commander-in-chief, and pathos- “[she’ll] deliver real results for everyday [citizens]” to easily prove his point. He promptly emphasizes on how President Joseph Biden selflessly “passed the torch” to Harris, showing that she proved herself ready to lead this country. He further addresses how Harris has already fought for America’s freedom, families, and future during her term as vice president. In all, Jeffries believes the American people should vote Harris as the 47th president of the United States of America.
While persuading the audience, Jeffries cloaks Harris’ campaign promises in bemoaning the state of the country. He exclaims that the American dream lays out of reach, as people can’t earn a living wage even when “work[ing] hard and play[ing] by the rules.”
The true American dream lies unreachable to them, with the proof that these people languish unable to get what they deserve: An affordable home; safe public schooling; high quality, affordable healthcare; and a graceful, dignified retirement. He implies Harris will rise capable of returning these rights, and the pathos (appeal to people’s patriotism and self-righteousness) liberally sprinkled throughout also pushes listeners toward voting for her to accomplish it.
On the other hand, Jeffries expresses, through a simile, how Trump behaves “like an old boyfriend you broke up with” and keeps returning. He ran for president in 2016, won, and committed some questionable actions. Then Trump ran against Biden and lost, unjustifiably and obnoxiously deeming the election a scam. Four years later, he now runs against Harris who offers new opportunities for the American people. She and her running mate Walz care for the people and want the American dream to stay alive. Jeffries undermines Trump’s credibility in an extended metaphor, quipping that he keeps “spinning the block,” and he also cautions that “we broke up with [him] for a reason”. Emphasizing these facts send a clear message to Trump to let go and move back to the Hell he came from. In the words of Harris, “we are not going back.” Indubitably, Jeffries viciously verbally assaulted Trump with grace and poise.
Just as Thomas Jefferson criticized and denounced King George III for his ill-treatment of America in the Declaration of Independence, Jeffries criticizes and denounces Trump for his ill-treatment of America in his own speech: Enumerating his variety of transgressions, blunders, and—above all—failures both during and after his tenure; accusing Trump of lying about the election; mismanaging the COVID-19 outbreak; appointing three extremist judges on the Supreme Court who overturned Roe v. Wade; and indulging in the GOP tax scam that benefited primarily the very affluent. Even calling him a “chaos agent” due to his disregard for anybody, even the American people, unless, of course, it involves himself. All in all, as Jeffries reveals more of his witless actions, he unmasks the eloquent, sensible, and just man that Trump wishes and yearns to become, whilst highlighting the incoherent and perfidious oaf of a con-man he truly embodies. He jokes that he represents something akin to a desperate ex-partner; someone the American people should never take back, avowing, “Been there, done that. We’re not going back.”
Subsequently, Jeffries confidently professes various parts of Harris’ agenda, if elected, for the impending presidential term. Jeffries claims that Harris and the House Democrats will overhaul several systemic issues to protect and enhance the quality of life for the middle class. He passionately and reverently highlights that Harris intends to “lower costs, fix the immigration system . . . protect the Affordable Care Act, [and] protect working families.” Acknowledging these issues allows the audience to feel recognized, casting Harris as a credible, trustworthy person. In addition, it displays compassion, determination, and observance toward working-class Americans, persuading them to vote for Harris in the upcoming election.
In opposition, Jeffries proceeds to paint MAGA Republicans as extremists with ideologies that will drive them to the division of the nation. He then delivers a simply worded counter stance that invokes shared constitutional and religious values. The values of “equal protection to all under the law,” and the values of this “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” display a brilliantly devious application of ethos, excellently cultivating hope and religious connection. Through the repetition of “together” and “joy,” he masterfully composes the indirect claim that the Democratic party embodies hope; and with the same indirect wit, reaffirms the plan his party has for the nation. AP Language 5
Naturally, Jeffries urges the American citizens to vote, while expressing his support for Harris in her political campaign. Jeffries asserts that Harris’ intelligence and sophistication will bring forth significant progress in society, while Trump would have America regress to a time of economic and social suffering similar to the Civil War. He voices that as the Democrats reclaim authority and transform the country for the better, Harris will always have a reason to fight for the people and restore the American dream. He vivaciously employs ethos and parallelism, “Nothing can stop Kamala Harris from becoming the 47th President of the United States of America, nothing can stop House Democrats from taking back the majority, nothing can stop the American people from continuing our march toward a more perfect Union,” to encourage activism.
Overall, Jeffries tenaciously and passionately rallies the American people not only to vote, but to fight for Harris while advocating for unity. He emphasizes her undying commitment to the people, her relentless commitment to progress, and her unwavering commitment to America, unlike Trump, who commits only to abusing his pernicious and undermining influence to spread a treacherous and truculent message across the nation. Jeffries makes it clear that Trump stands as nothing but an arrogant, abhorrent, belligerent, boastful, childish, cowardly, deluded, and dangerous embarrassment of a man who represents a persistent plague on the country, one that we certainly must not allow to resurface. At the same time, Jeffries highlights the positive, transformative change the Democrats drive and urges every citizen to stand up and fight for the future America deserves. He alludes that they must fight alongside Harris, the candidate who can deliver the progress the country needs, unlike Trump, a destructive “chaos agent” promoting discord. In this pivotal moment, Jeffries calls on every American voter to utilize their God given right to vote for the only candidate who can propel the future of America to unimaginable heights.
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