Watch: Biden addresses nation after Trump's win
WATCH: Biden addresses nation after Trump's win
President Joe Biden delivered remarks to the nation Thursday in his first appearance on camera following Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris. Biden spoke at the White House Rose Garden. On Wednesday, the president invited Trump to the White House for an Oval Office meeting to begin the transition process.
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday following Donald Trump’s decisive win over Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election.
Biden, speaking from the Rose Garden, said he spoke on the phone with Trump Wednesday to congratulate him and to assure there will be a smooth transfer of power.
US President Joe Biden arrives to speak during an address to the nation in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Photographer: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images
"That's what the American people deserve," Biden said. "In a democracy, the will of the people always prevails."
Biden said now that the heated election is over, he hopes Americans can come together and "bring down the temperature."
"We accept the choice the country made. You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree," Biden said. "Something I hope we can do no matter who you voted for is see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans."
The president reiterated that the U.S. election system "is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent. And it can be trusted, win or lose."
He closed by saying that defeat doesn't mean one is defeated.
"America endures," he said. "We’re going to be OK, but we need to stay engaged."
In a statement released Wednesday, Biden noted the "extraordinary circumstances" of Harris’ campaign.
"Under extraordinary circumstances, she stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what’s possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation that is more free, more just, and full of more opportunities for all Americans," Biden said.
"As I’ve said before, selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made when I became the nominee for president in 2020. It was the best decision I made," he continued. "Her story represents the best of America’s story. And as she made clear today, I have no doubt that she’ll continue writing that story."
Transition discussions are expected to ramp up later in the week, as attention turns to naming an inaugural committee and a formal transition team.
Trump and Harris also spoke on a call where the president-elect "acknowledged Vice President Harris for her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country," according to Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.