BILL Clinton shocked his supporters during his speech on day three of the Democratic National Convention, with his older appearance and hoarse voice throwing off viewers.
The 42nd president addressed the convention to cast his support for Vice President Kamala Harris but his supporters were focused on the sound of his voice rather than his words.
Clinton spoke into the microphone with a dominant tone, his voice reverberating throughout the stadium.
But despite the power in his voice, there was a hoarse, scratchy quality that for some viewers, was hard to ignore.
Some wondered if Clinton was sick — when President Joe Biden had displayed a raspy voice at June’s presidential debate against Trump, it turned out he had Covid.
“Does Bill Clinton have Covid?” an X user asked. “Why tf does he sound like that?”
Another person called it “jarring” to see Clinton, 78, in old age “with his voice weakened.”
“Bill Clinton does not sound good,” a third person wrote.
“Hasn’t for a while, sounding older than he is, and he’s not exactly young these days.”
DNC day 3 highlights so far…
However, one person said that Clinton’s skills as a speaker are unmatched despite his age.
“If you look close you can see when he goes to the script and when he rewrites it on the fly,” they wrote.
“Talks like he’s in your living room. The master.”
Clinton was indeed quick to make jokes at Trump’s expense, saying that despite turning 78 two days ago he’s still “younger than Donald Trump.”
He also made references to a crude joke former President Barack Obama made the night prior, as he called Trump self-centered.
“The next time you hear him, don’t count the lies, count the I’s,” said Clinton.
“Do you want to spend the next four years talking about crowd size?”
Obama made the joke during the keynote address, positing his hands to make insinuations about Trump’s obsession with crowd size.
As one of Clinton’s supporters pointed out on X, he appeared to ignore the teleprompter at times as he riffed about Trump being a good actor who sided with dictators from North Korea and Russia.
He repeatedly used ad-libs during his speech, posing problems for the teleprompter operator, reported The Washington Post.
The Democratic National Convention is the presidential nominating convention for the 2024 Presidential Election.
Delegates of the US Democratic Party will vote to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
They will also affirm her choice of running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for vice president.
Kamala Harris is the first Black woman and first South Asian person to be the presidential nominee of a major political party in the US.
The convention begins on Monday, August 19, and runs through Thursday, August 22.
It will take place in Chicago, Illinois, at Chicago’s United Center.
The Democratic National Convention Chair is Minyon Moore.
Notable speakers will include President Joe Biden, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Jason Carter, and Pete Buttigieg.
“We’ve seen more than one election slip away from us,” said Clinton as his wife, Hillary Clinton, sat in the crowd.
“You should never underestimate your adversary. These people are really good at distracting us, at triggering doubt, at triggering buyer’s remorse.”
Despite going off script, Clinton earned loud applause from the audience at Chicago’s United Center.
The jokes kept coming as Clinton praised Harris as a candidate who could “work to solve our problems, seize our opportunities, ease our fears, and make sure every single American, however, they vote, has a chance to chase their dream.”
He mentioned Harris’ past working at McDonald’s while she attended college in Washington before referencing his love for the fast-food restaurant, which was once the subject of a well-known 2013 Saturday Night Live skit.
“I will 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 said to a roaring crowd.
The DNC has been packed with several political figures such as Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and current President Joe Biden.
However, it has also featured many celebrities including comedians, rappers, musicians, and entertainers.
Delegates from across the nation decended into Chicago's United Center to formally celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democrats presidential nominee.
DNC Night 1 highlights:
DNC Night 2 highlights:
Stevie Wonder performed at the event and comedian Kenan Thompson acted in a skit about the dangers of Project 2025.
The week also saw appearances from Eva Longoria, Patti LaBelle, Common, Stephen Colbert, Spike Lee, Lil Jon, Sean Astin, and Ana Navarro.
After former President Clinton, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi took to the stage to make a brief speech.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, then bounced on stage for the keynote address.
Meanwhile, Trump has kept himself busy at his first outdoor rally since July after he was injured in an assassination attempt.
The event in Asheboro, North Carolina, featured several security measures such as a bulletproof glass box placed around the podium where Trump spoke.
