Kamala Harris delivers ‘closing argument’ in Washington: ‘It is time for a new generation of leadership’ – live

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“Here is my pledge to you: I pledge to seek common ground and common sense solutions,” Harris says.

“I pledge to listen to experts, to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, and to those who disagree with me,” Harris says.

Trump wants to put those who disagree with him in jail, she says, and she will “give them a seat at the table.”

“I pledge to be a president for all Americans, and to always put country above party and self.”

Trump is, “easy to manipulate with flattery or favour”, Harris says. She says the Russian and North Korean leaders want Trump to win.

“America, we know what Donald Trump has in mind: more chaos, more division, and policies that help those at the very top and hurt everyone else.”

Harris moves onto the border.

She has prosecuted drug smugglers, she says. As president, she will deport criminals. She will work to end cartels.

“But at the same time, we must acknowledge that we are a nation of immigrants,” she says. She will work to help dreamers: a group of people who get their name from the DREAM Act, a bill that aimed to grant legal status to young immigrants living in the United States unlawfully – because they were brought into the country by their parents who were not citizens.

Harris moves on to abortion.

“The idea that a woman who survives the crime of a violation to her body should not have the power to decide what happens to her body next is immoral,” she says.

She repeats her message that people do not have to let go of their deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not have permission to tell a woman what to do with her body.

She will sign abortion into law as president, she says, to huge cheers from the crowd.

Pro-Palestinian protesters removed from venue

Several pro-Palestinian protesters are being removed from the venue. Harris is often interrupted by protests over her refusal to call for an arms embargo against Israel following its devastating invasions of Gaza and Lebanon.

Harris did not appear to hear the protesters and kept speaking without disruption.

One woman carrying the red, black and green Palestinian flag was removed. “Free Palestine,” she shouted and was drowned out by chants of “USA! USA!”

Harris repeats her policies about care giving at home. She will change medicare so that it will cover the costs of home-based medical care, she says.

She will work to make sure “hard-working Americans can afford a place to live”, she says. She remembers her own mother saving up to buy a home.

“It’s about the pride of your hard work,” she says.

There is an obvious contrast here with Trump, who inherited wealth from his property mogul father.

So far this speech is specific and practical. Harris has sought to portray herself as someone down-to-earth and in touch, a protector who gets things done, who will walk into the Oval Office “with a to-do list”, and who will work to unite Americans.

“Our top priority as a nation four years ago was to end the pandemic and rescue the economy. Now our priority is to bring down costs,” says Harris.

She says she remembers her mother sitting at a “formica table”, worrying about bills.

Trump, she says, is going to impose a Trump sales tax on everything that is important. It would cost the average family nearly $4,000 a year.

Families will pay even more if “Trump finally gets his way and repeals the affordable care act”.

“We are not going back,” she says. “We are not going back,” and the crowd goes wild.

'Trump will walk in with an enemy list. I will walk in with a to-do list,' says Harris

“In less than 90 days, either Donald Trump or I will be in the Oval Office,” she says, and the crowd erupts into chants of “Kamala! Kamala!”

“And on day one of being elected, Donald Trump will walk in with an enemy list. I will walk in with a to-do list,” she says.

“I will always tell you the truth, even if it is difficult to hear,” says Harris.

Kamala Harris acknowledges that some voters may not “know who I am”, and she introduces herself as a prosecutor who has “always had an instinct to protect. There is something about people being treated unfairly or overlooked that frankly just gets to me. I don’t like it,” she says.

'It is time for a new generation of leadership,' says Harris

“It is time for a new generation of leadership in America,” says Harris.

“And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.”

Harris, who just turned 60 years old, is 18 years younger than Donald Trump.

'For too long we have been consumed by division,' says Harris

Harris says that America’s motto, E pluribus unum, which is Latin for “Out of many, one”, signifies that debate, and disagreement, are important: the fact that a person disagrees with you does not make them your enemy.

“As Americans we rise and fall together,” she says.

“America, for too long, we have been consumed by division,” she says, “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

“We have to stop pointing fingers and start linking arms,” she says.

“That is who Donald Trump is,” Harris says, but she is here to remind America: “That is not who we are.”

Harris is highlighting Trump describing those who disagree with him as “the enemy within”.

Trump is “unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance and out for unchecked power”, she says.

Harris invokes January 6 storming of Capitol, 'at this very place'

Harris says the vote will be between chaos and division, or freedom.

Harris says: “At this very place, [Trump] sent an armed mob to overturn a free and fair election, an election that he lost. Americans died as a result of that attack,” she says.

She reminds the crowd that Trump was told that the mob wanted to kill “his own vice-president”, Mike Pence, and responded with “two words: ‘So what?’”

Harris says next week will be, 'the most important vote you ever cast'

“So listen: one week from today you will have the chance to make a decision that directly impacts your life, the life of your family, and the future of this country that we love,” Harris says.

“And it will probably be the most important vote you ever cast.”