LAST UPDATE | 7 Nov
US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has addressed the nation to vow a peaceful transfer of power, as Donald Trump prepared to choose his top team after his crushing election win.
Biden spoke from the Rose Garden of the White House to discuss the election results and the transition to Trump’s second term.
He received a round of applause when he came out to make his address and called on the nation to “bring down the temperature”.
Biden said Kamala Harris should be “proud” of her campaign and said said “everyone got to see her character”.
“We accept the choice the country made, I have said many times, ‘you can’t love your country only when you win, you can’t love your neighbour only when you win’,” said Biden.
He expressed hope that the nation could “bring down the temperature” and see each other “not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans”.
In a jab at Trump, Biden said the electoral process is transparant and fair and that “it can can be trusted, win or lose”.
“On January 20, we will have a peaceful transfer of power here in America,” said Biden.
He called on his team to “not forget all that we have accomplished” and said his term was a “presidency of all Americans”.
“We have legislation we passed that is now only kicking in,” said Biden.
“We are leaving behind the strongest economy in the world, together we have changed America for the better, now we have 74 days to finish our term, let’s make everyday count.”
He added that a “defeat does not mean we are defeated”.
“Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable,” said Biden.
“We lost this battle but the America of your dreams is calling you to get back up,” said Biden.
“The American experiment endures, we’re going to be okay, but we need to stay engaged, we need to keep going, and above all, we need to keep the faith.”
The 81-year-old dropped out of the race against Trump in July and handed the Democratic nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris – but is now likely to see his legacy dismantled after the Republican beat Harris to secure a historic comeback.
In his speech, Biden drew a contrast between his handling of the election result and that of Trump in 2021, whose refusal to accept his own 2020 election defeat by the Democrat culminated in the violent 6 January, 2021 assault by Trump’s supporters on the US Capitol.
The White House said Biden spoke with Trump yesterday and “expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition.”
Biden has also invited Trump to meet at the White House, despite their long history of bitter animosity.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said the president-elect “looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly.”
It will be the first time they have met since Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump in June that forced him out of the race.
-With additional reporting from © AFP 2024
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