Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
After an opening night devoted to thanking President Biden, Democratic National Convention speakers on Tuesday barely mentioned the president.
Instead, speakers on the second day of the convention sought to turn the page and focus on the party's nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, rather than Biden's accomplishments.
Former President Barack Obama talked about Biden longer than any other headliner, about two minutes.
“History will remember Joe Biden as a president who defended democracy in a time of great danger,” Obama said in his keynote speech. “I'm proud to call him my president, but even more proud to call him my friend.” .
“Now the torch has been passed,” he said.
Former first lady Michelle Obama, who spoke in front of her husband, did not mention Biden once in her speech.
Earlier in the evening, when convention speakers did mention Biden, it was almost always in conjunction with Harris, praising their administration's accomplishments.
On Monday night, after Biden delivered a nearly 50-minute keynote speech, he boarded Air Force One and flew to Southern California. The president will vacation there for the rest of the week.