Biden pledges peaceful transition of power to Trump
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Joe Biden pledged a peaceful transfer of power to US President-elect Donald Trump, after acknowledging the election loss of his vice president and 2020 running mate Kamala Harris.
Speaking from the White House Rose Garden, the president committed to an "orderly transition" and acknowledged the pain felt by his supporters.
He praised Harris for her dedication and “great character”, saying she “gave her whole heart” to the campaign.
Biden told the nation that US elections are “honest… fair, and… transparent — and it can be trusted, win or lose,” despite Trump’s history of casting doubt on the electoral process and making unfounded claims of voter fraud.
Biden thanked election workers for their service and underscored the importance of accepting election results, saying, “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
The context: Biden's acknowledgment of the election result followed Vice President Harris’ concession speech, both contrasting with Trump’s refusal to concede in 2020 and subsequent legal challenges.
President-elect Trump, a convicted felon awaiting sentencing in his hush money case, is preparing to move forward with his agenda, potentially announcing staff picks within days, according to CNN sources.
Trump has vowed to fire Jack Smith, the special counsel leading federal cases against him for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and mishandling classified documents.
But according to media reports, Smith is now preparing to end the federal cases against the president-elect because of a longstanding Department of Justice policy that a sitting president cannot face criminal prosecution while in office, according to ABC News.
Meanwhile, the extent of Republican’s control of the Senate is yet to be settled as senate races in Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona remained uncalled.
The outcome for House control remains uncertain, but it appears likely that Republicans will also secure a majority there, albeit narrow.
What they said: “Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him that I’d direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve,” Biden said.
“Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made,” he said. “I’ve said many times you can’t love your country only when you win.”
“Setbacks are unavoidable but giving up is unforgivable,” he said.
The sources: CNN, The New York Times
