Former President Bill Clinton caused concern among viewers during his speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night. Speaking with a noticeably raspy voice and visibly trembling hands, Clinton, 78, reflected on his advancing age and suggested that his appearances at future conventions might be limited.
Addressing the crowd before vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Clinton acknowledged his long history with the convention, saying, “I have no idea how many more of these I’ll be able to come to. I started in ’76, and I’ve been to everyone since — no, ’72.
Lord, I’m getting old.” His 27-minute speech, at times impromptu, was marked by reflections on mortality and the passage of time.
Clinton, who celebrated his 78th birthday just days earlier, quipped that he was still younger than former President Donald Trump, who is also 78, drawing applause from the audience. However, viewers quickly took to social media to express concern over his frail appearance and subdued energy, with one user commenting, “Clinton looks way beyond his years. He speaks slowly, raspy, shaky voice… he has aged in every way.”
In his remarks, Clinton praised President Joe Biden, who is stepping down after significant internal party pressure, although Clinton did not directly mention this. He commended Biden for his “courage, compassion, his class, his service, his sacrifice” and noted that many Democrats feel relieved by Biden’s decision, saying, “We feel like a load is off our shoulders.”
Throughout his speech, Clinton repeatedly mispronounced the name of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. However, he highlighted her and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as leaders with “all-American but still improbable life stories.” He lightheartedly mentioned Harris’ past job at McDonald’s, joking that she might surpass his record as the president who spent the most time at the fast-food chain.
Clinton also aimed at Donald Trump, describing him as vain and warning that Democrats should not become overconfident or distracted by “phoney issues” if they want to avoid repeating past election surprises, referencing his wife, Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016.
Governor Josh Shapiro also spoke, characterizing Trump as “a man with no guardrails” and urging voters to “defend our democracy” by supporting Harris. Nancy Pelosi, who played a crucial role in encouraging Biden to step aside, delivered a brief but pointed 4-minute speech. She praised Biden for leading “one of the most successful presidencies of modern times” and thanked him for his service.
The evening’s speeches emphasized the party’s efforts to unite behind Harris and Walz while addressing concerns about its veteran leaders’ health and future involvement.
