Biden assures peaceful transfer of power in 1st address after Trump’s victory

Outgoing US President Joe Biden on Thursday assured that he will ensure a peaceful transfer of power on January 20, 2025.

The day when Donald Trump will swear in as the country’s 47th President. He said that the will of the people always prevails in a democracy.

In his first remarks after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, Biden was all praise for the 2024 Democratic nominee, saying she gave her “whole heart and effort”.

“She gave her whole heart and effort, and she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran,” said Biden, who opted out of the White House race in July following a controversy over his age and health concerns in view of his disastrous debate against Trump in June.

“Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him that I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve,” he said.

Biden said he spoke to Harris and called her a “public servant”, adding it was a difficult time for the Democratic Party to cope with the loss in the election.

“Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. I will do my duty as president. I fulfill my oath and I will honor the Constitution. On January 20, we’ll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America,” he said.

Asserting that setbacks were unavoidable and giving up was unforgiveable, Biden gave an encouraging message to Democrats, saying, “I know it’s a difficult time. You’re hurting. I hear you and I see you. But don’t forget. Don’t forget all that we accomplished. It’s been a historic presidency. Not because I’m president. Because what we’ve done, what you’ve done.”

Trump became the first president in 132 years to win non-consecutive terms after he lost to Biden in 2020, and won against Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016. His impressive performance was set up with a near clean sweep in all seven states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin.

According to races called by The Associated Press, Trump secured 295 electoral votes so far, comfortably crossing the 270-majority mark while Harris got 226. Counting of votes is still underway in Nevada and Arizona, the two swing states, where Trump is leading.