U.S. President Joe Biden has addressed Vice President Kamala Harris' loss to Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, describing the defeat as a "setback," while emphasizing the importance of unity and acceptance of the election results.
Speaking on Thursday morning, Biden acknowledged the challenges, stating, "Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable," and adding, "A defeat does not mean we are defeated." The president urged Americans to move beyond division and embrace unity, stressing that the country must accept the choice made by voters.
"We accept the choice the country made," Biden stated, reinforcing the idea that one cannot love their country only when they win or agree with every viewpoint. "Something I hope we can do no matter who you voted for is see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans," he continued, urging the nation to "bring down the temperature" of political discourse.
Biden confirmed that his administration would work closely with Trump’s transition team to ensure a "peaceful and orderly transition" of power. He underscored the strength of America’s democratic process, saying, "For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government," where the people vote and choose their leaders peacefully, and the will of the people prevails.
The president also praised Vice President Harris for her inspiring campaign. "She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much — her character," Biden said. "She has a backbone like a ramrod, she has great character, true character." He commended her efforts and the entire campaign team, noting that they should be proud of their work.
In a separate statement, Biden reiterated his confidence in the integrity of the U.S. electoral system, saying, "I hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system, it is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent." He also expressed hope that the election results would silence doubts and misinformation about election integrity, particularly those propagated by Trump and his supporters following the 2020 election.
In a phone call with Vice President Harris on Wednesday, Biden congratulated her for her campaign despite the loss. He also reflected on his decision to choose her as his running mate, calling it "the best decision I made."
President Biden also reached out to President-elect Donald Trump, inviting him to a meeting at the White House. The Trump campaign expressed gratitude for the call, with the former president looking forward to the meeting.
Throughout the election cycle, Biden had framed a potential Trump return to the White House as a significant threat to democracy, acknowledging the ongoing rivalry between the two men since their 2020 presidential contest. Harris formally conceded the race on Wednesday afternoon, delivering a speech at Howard University, her alma mater, where she called for acceptance of the election results.
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