President Joe Biden delivered a measured and reflective speech following electoral results, emphasizing the endurance of American democracy and calling for national unity. In his address, Biden confirmed he had spoken with President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory and discuss the transition of power.
"For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world. The people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully," Biden stated at the beginning of his remarks. The president emphasized his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power, stating he had directed his "entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition."
In his speech, Biden also acknowledged Vice President Harris' contributions, praising her character and campaign efforts. "She has a backbone, like a ramrod. She has great character. She gave her whole heart and effort. And she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran," he said.
The president made a strong appeal for national unity, urging Americans to see beyond political divisions: "Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. I've said many times, you can't love your country only when you win. You can't love your neighbor only when you agree. Something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, is see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans. I also 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. I will fulfill my oath, and I will honor the Constitution on January 20th. We'll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America."
Joe Biden Post Election Speech on Nov. 7th
"On January 20th, we'll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America."
[Full Speech: English Captions] pic.twitter.com/RqURSz4tBD
— David LaBeouf (@DavidLaBeouf) November 7, 2024
Looking back at his presidency, Biden highlighted his administration's achievements, particularly in infrastructure development. "We're going to see over $1 trillion worth of infrastructure work done, changing people's lives in rural communities and communities that are in real difficulty," he noted.
The President concluded his speech with a message of resilience, sharing what he called his father's wisdom: "Setbacks are unavoidable. But giving up is unforgivable." He assured the American people, "We're going to be okay. We need to keep going. And above all, we need to keep the faith."
The speech marked a significant moment in the transfer of power process, with Biden indicating there are "74 days to finish the term" and emphasizing his commitment to making "every day count."
