Biden says Americans deserve a 'peaceful and orderly transition'; praises Harris for her 'true character'

Washington, November 7: President Joe Biden Thursday vowed a "peaceful and orderly transition", a day after Donald Trump's emphatic win in the US presidential election, as he urged his countrymen to "bring down the temperature" following months of acrimonious electioneering.

Biden's short address to the nation from the Rose Garden of the White House comes after Vice President and Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris conceded the election to the former president and the Republican Party's nominee Trump on Wednesday.

Biden emphasised the American people deserve a “peaceful and orderly” transition following Trump’s victory in Tuesday's election.

“For over 200 years, America has carried out the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world,” Biden said in his first public remarks since Trump’s win was declared.

“That’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact. Where the people, the people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully. And we’re in a democracy. The will of the people always prevails,” the 81-year-old Biden 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, who will demmitt office on January 20, 2025, said.

Biden told Americans on Thursday that he understands there will be different feelings about yesterday’s presidential election result, but it is important to “accept the choice the country made.”

“I know for some people it is a time for victory, to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss. Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other, we accept the choice the country made,” Biden said.

“You can’t love your country only when you win,” he said. “You can’t love your neighbour only when you agree. Something I think you can do no matter who you voted for is to see each other not as adversaries but as fellow Americans.”

Biden pointed out the positive impact of his administration during his address and urged Americans: “Don’t forget all that we accomplished.”

He said his presidency has been historic “not because I’m president, because of what we’ve done, (but) what you’ve done, a presidency for all Americans.”

“Much of the work we’ve done is already being felt by the American people,” he said, adding that “the vast majority of it” will have an impact over the “next ten years.”

“We have legislation we passed that’s just, only now, just really kicking in,” Biden said.

Biden also emphasised the “integrity of the American electoral system.”

“It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent — and it can be trusted, win or lose,” he said.

President-elect Trump had repeatedly questioned the US electoral system following his election loss in 2020, spreading false claims about voter fraud. Trump repeated these allegations in the months before the 2024 presidential election, making baseless claims that Democrats were rigging the election.

In his speech, Biden thanked election workers who “took risks” and “busted their necks” to do their duty as citizens.

“Many of them are volunteers who do it simply out of love for their country, and as they did, as they did their duty as citizens, I will do my duty as president,” Biden said, indicating that he would fulfil his promise to relinquish power and welcome a new administration.

Biden also sought to assuage the crestfallen Democratic Party supporters following Trump’s victory over Harris.

“Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgettable,” he said.

“We all get knocked down, but the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up,” he said.

“Remember,” Biden said, “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.”

“The American spirit endures,” Biden said.

He also praised Biden Harris, 60, for her “true character.” 

“She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much, her character. She has a backbone like a ramrod and she has great character, true character,” Biden said.

“She gave her whole heart and effort. She and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran,” Biden said.

Earlier, Harris conceded the 2024 presidential election, acknowledging her massive defeat to Trump while committing to a peaceful transfer of power.

“Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect (Donald) Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,” she said in remarks at Howard University, her alma mater, in Washington, DC.

By saying so, Harris did something Trump refused to do following his defeat to Biden in the 2020 election: Accept its outcome.

“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. … At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say: While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she said.

Addressing her supporters, Harris said, “I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it. But we must accept the results of this election.”

“Do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves. This is a time to organise, to mobilise, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together,” she said in her 12-minute address.

She vowed to wage that fight “in the voting booth, in the courts, and in the public square,” as well as in “quieter ways: By treating one another with kindness and respect … by always using our strength to lift people up.”

She also sent messages to her young supporters.

“The important thing is don’t ever give up. Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place,” she said, adding that “You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world.” (Ends)