Biden Pledges Peaceful Transition as Trump Secures White House Return

Clear Facts

• President Biden congratulated President-elect Trump on his victory and pledged a peaceful transition of power.
• Biden praised Vice President Kamala Harris for her campaign and character following her concession.
• Trump secured at least 295 Electoral College votes and a majority of the popular vote, while Harris received 226 Electoral College votes.

In a significant moment for American democracy, President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Rose Garden, following Vice President Kamala Harris’s concession of the 2024 presidential election to President-elect Donald Trump.

Biden confirmed that he had spoken with Trump, congratulating him on his victory and ensuring that the Biden administration would facilitate a “peaceful and orderly transition.”

“That’s what the American people deserve,” Biden emphasized.

He took the opportunity to commend Harris for her campaign, describing her as having “great character” and “backbone like a ramrod.”

Trump’s return to the White House is set for January, after receiving over 72 million votes and securing at least 295 Electoral College votes. Harris, in contrast, garnered 226 Electoral College votes and over 68 million votes, with some ballots still being counted.

The election results followed a challenging campaign season. Biden, who initially won the Democratic primary, withdrew after a poor debate performance against Trump, leading to Harris’s nomination without a primary vote.

During the campaign, both Biden and Harris had labeled Trump a “fascist,” warning that his re-election could endanger democracy.

However, Biden’s tone shifted post-election, focusing on unity. He described political campaigns as “a contest of competing visions,” urging Americans to accept the outcome.

“A country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. I’ve said many times, you can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.”

Biden expressed hope that the election would affirm the integrity of the electoral system, stating, “It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent, and it can be trusted. Win or lose.”

The address followed Harris’s concession speech at Howard University, where she stated, “while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”

Her campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, described the loss as “unfathomably painful,” but committed to continuing the work against the impacts of a Trump presidency.

Biden concluded his speech with a message of resilience, saying, “setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable.”

“We all get knocked down. But the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up. Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up.”

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