On the last night of the Democratic convention, the party will make committing to maintaining America’s strength — from supporting the military and veterans to protecting the rule of law and preserving the nation’s standing on the world stage — a key theme of the day, according to a Harris campaign official who shared details with NBC News.
The party plans to showcase its values by featuring a number of speakers who have served in the military and in law enforcement, while “highlighting the threat Trump poses to our freedoms and security,” the official said.
Leon Panetta, who formerly served as both the defense secretary and CIA director, is scheduled to speak as part of the theme. Other planned speakers include Adam Kinzinger, a former Republican congressman and former Air National Guard lieutenant colonel; Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., who is running for Senate and is a former Marine corporal; and Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who is running for Senate and formerly worked as acting assistant secretary of defense and a CIA intelligence analyst.
Other veterans who will address the convention include Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., a former Navy captain, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., a former Air Force colonel; and Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., a former Army captain.
“Vice President Harris has spent her entire career fighting for the rule of law, putting violent criminals behind bars,” Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Harris’ campaign manager, said in a statement provided to NBC News. “She is running alongside a veteran who spent over 24 years serving our nation, Governor Walz. There’s simply no comparison when it comes to which candidate values service, security, and America’s veterans. On the other side, Donald Trump has no respect for our men and women in uniform, their families, or the freedoms they fought to defend — calling fallen soldiers ‘suckers’ and ‘losers.’”
Chávez Rodríguez also said in the statement, “This November, America will remind Donald Trump that voters want leaders who care about our security and servicemembers, not extremists who praise dictators and denigrate our troops.”
The campaign official who provided details of the last day’s theme also said that in addition to featuring speakers, the Harris-Walz campaign has a “dedicated national organizing program for veterans and military families, which will engage and mobilize millions of veterans and military families across the country.”
As part of the push, campaign and convention officials plan to argue that “under the leadership of Vice President Harris and President Biden, our country has strengthened America’s standing as a global leader and delivered real results for those who have served and their families. The Vice President will build on that legacy when she’s reelected in November.”
They will also say Harris and Biden made “major progress” for veterans and their families, while Trump “repeatedly disrespects our brave men and women in uniform and as president,” the campaign official said.
The campaign official also underscored that Walz served in the National Guard for 24 years and that Harris as a prosecutor “spent her career putting murderers and abusers behind bars.”