U.S President, Joe Biden has signaled his intention to relinquish power, stating that the American people deserve a “peaceful and orderly” transition following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
This came as he addressed the nation from the White House Rose Garden.
He noted the Americans are in a democracy, adding that “The will of the people always prevails.”
He mentioned that he spoke with President-elect Trump on Wednesday 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.”
Also, Biden emphasized 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.
He thanked election workers who “took risks” and “busted their necks” to do “their duty as citizens.”
“We can restore the respect for all our election workers who busted their necks, took risks at the outset. We should thank them, thank them for staffing voting sites, counting the votes, protecting the very integrity of the election.
“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.”
Joe Biden
Additionally, he lauded Vice President Kamala Harris.
“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.
“She gave her whole heart and effort. She and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran.”
Joe Biden
The US President noted that he understands there will be different feelings about the 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.
“You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree. Something I think you can do no matter who you voted for is see each other not as adversaries but as fellow Americans, bring down the temperature.”
Joe Biden
Biden Touts Administration’s Impact
Moreover, President Joe Biden touted the impact of his administration during his address and urged Americans not to forget “all that we accomplished.”
He said that his presidency has been historic “not because I’m President, (but) because of what we’ve done, what you’ve done, a presidency for all Americans.”
According to him, much of the work we’ve done is already being felt by the American people, adding that “the vast majority of it” will have an impact over the course of the “next 10 years.”
Biden said that over a trillion dollars of infrastructure work was done under his administration, which will change the lives of people in rural communities and communities that are in “real difficulty.”
Also, he sought to assuage the defeat his base is feeling following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.
“Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable. We all get knocked down, but the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up.
“Remember, 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.”
Joe Biden
Biden said, “The American spirit endures.”
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