Biden promises to work with Trump and tells the nation to come together after Kamala Harris’ defeat

President Joe Biden pledged to work with Donald Trump to achieve a peaceful transition and urged the country to come together as he broke his silence on the election.

“I will fulfill my duty as president. I will fulfill my oath and honor the Constitution. On January 20, we will have a peaceful transition of power here in America,” he said.

The 81-year-old commander-in-chief spoke with a smile from the White House Rose Garden in his first public appearance since Trump’s landslide victory in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The outgoing president told the nation to be positive and accept the devastating results for Democrats after his Vice President Kamala Harris ran an “inspirational campaign.”

Biden walked out of the Oval Office to applause from a crowd that included Cabinet members, staff and his granddaughter Finnegan and ran to the podium.

As he concluded his remarks, he blew a kiss to the audience and emphasized that his government should be proud of its record.

‘I know it’s a difficult time. You’re in pain. I hear you and I see you,” he said.

‘A country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country makes.

‘You can’t love your country only when you win. You cannot love your neighbor only if you agree.

‘A defeat does not mean that we are defeated. We have lost this battle. But we can get back up,” he added.

He watched the results come in late Tuesday night with family and close friends at the White House, sitting in the residence as Republicans took control of the White House and Senate. Control of the House of Representatives has yet to be determined.

Biden called both Harris and Trump on Wednesday. He is also referred to as Democrats who won the House and Senate elections.

He congratulated Harris on her historic campaign, and invited President-elect Trump to meet with him at the White House.

He expressed his commitment to ensure a smooth transition to power.

But he had his own warning for the newly elected president, telling him about “the importance of working to bring the country closer together.”

Biden will attend Trump’s inauguration. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said before the election that Biden would attend the election for whoever wins the presidency.

Now Biden’s legacy is at stake as the president sideds with Trump’s terms.

“Don’t forget everything we have accomplished,” he said Thursday. “It’s been a historic presidency.”

He argued that many of these achievements — like his infrastructure plan — won’t be felt by the public for years.

He also beat back voters’ anger over the economy.

‘We are leaving behind the strongest economy in the world. “I know people are still hurting, but things are changing quickly,” he said.

He and his team will likely spend the three months leading up to Inauguration Day trying to support as many initiatives as possible — by securing more funding for Ukraine, pushing for a ceasefire in the Middle East, and do what they can to protect Ukraine. federal workers, whom Trump has promised to target.

Biden will also have to weigh any pardons he wants to issue, including whether to give one to his son Hunter.

Trump has been a tough critic of Biden’s Justice Department and vowed retaliation for what he sees as the government’s unfair prosecution of himself.

Trump spent his first day as president-elect receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and Biden as he began the process of turning his election victory into a government.

Harris formally committed to her campaign on Wednesday with a public speech at her alma mater, Howard University.

The emotional vice president admitted “this is not what we wanted” as she took the stage nearly 12 hours after the race was officially called for the former president.

However, Harris also pledged to help with the peaceful transfer of power, even as she said she would continue the fight after Trump’s dominant victory.

“While I concede this election, I will not concede to the strife this campaign has fueled,” she said.

Her voice trembled at times as she addressed a huge crowd of supporters of her alma mater.

‘My heart is full today. Full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. Full of love for our country and full of determination,” she said in her first appearance since voters rejected her vision for America.

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for, but hear me when I say, hear me when I say: the light of America’s promise will always burn bright,” she said. .