The former Democrat president is stumping hard for the Harris campaign. But that may be backfiring on him in a major way.
As Bill Clinton faces a grim reality after an alarming DNC appearance.
In an address at the Democratic National Convention, former President Bill Clinton, 78, shared concerns about his health and future involvement in the party, sparking significant reaction among viewers.
Speaking with a raspy voice and trembling hands, Clinton indicated that this might be one of his last appearances at such an event.
“I want to say this from the bottom of my heart, I have no idea how many more of these I’ll be able to come to,” he admitted during the 27-minute speech. “I started in ’76 and I’ve been [to] every one since — no, ’72. Lord, I’m getting old.”
Clinton’s candid reflection on his advancing age was emphasized by his remark, “Two days ago, I turned 78, the oldest man in my family for four generations.”
However, he added a jab at former President Donald Trump, saying, “and the only personal vanity I want to assert is I’m still younger than Donald Trump,” a line that earned warm applause.
Clinton, who once dominated the political stage with charisma and vitality, appeared visibly aged, drawing comments online.
Some viewers noted his “slow, raspy” delivery and “shaky hands,” with one person remarking that he had “aged in every way.” Another commented, “Bill Clinton has lost his fastball and is sucking the energy out of the United Center.”
His speech largely centered on the future of the Democratic Party, as well as an acknowledgment of the current political climate.
He praised President Joe Biden, referring to his “courage, compassion, and class,” though Clinton notably sidestepped the topic of Biden’s forced decision to step aside after concerns about his cognitive decline.
“He voluntarily gave up political power,” Clinton remarked, praising Biden’s service while also suggesting that many Democrats felt a sense of relief as they move forward without the weight of the president’s lagging approval ratings.
With the Democratic nomination now in the hands of Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Clinton heaped praise on the pair.
He highlighted their “all-American but still improbable life stories,” noting their careers rooted in “community, courtrooms, and classrooms.”
Clinton also made reference to Harris’ past job at McDonald’s, where her husband Doug Emhoff used to work as well. “I’ll be so happy when she actually enters the White House as president because she will break my record as the president who spent the most time at McDonald’s,” he quipped.
While reflecting on his personal journey and his connection to the party, Clinton did not hold back in his criticism of Donald Trump.
Describing the Republican nominee as “a good actor” and “vain,” Clinton cautioned Democrats not to underestimate him, warning, “We’ve seen more than one election slip away from us when we thought it couldn’t happen.” This was a pointed allusion to his wife Hillary Clinton’s shocking defeat in 2016.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro echoed this sentiment in his speech, calling Trump “a man with no guardrails” and emphasizing the need to “defend our democracy” by electing Harris. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, credited with orchestrating Biden’s exit from the nomination race, delivered a brief but pointed address, praising Biden for “one of the most successful presidencies of modern times.”
Clinton’s speech, marked by both personal reflection and political commentary, left many pondering the future not only of the former president’s involvement but also the direction of the Democratic Party in the upcoming election.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
