President Joe Biden addressed the nation Wednesday following Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, emphasizing unity and accepting the results while pledging an orderly transition of power.
“We accept the choice the country made,” Biden said in his first remarks since the election results. The President praised Harris’ campaign and character, calling her a “tremendous partner and public servant full of integrity, courage, and character.”
Biden emphasized the importance of unity and mutual respect, stating, “You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.” He urged Americans to “bring down the temperature” and view each other not as adversaries but as fellow citizens, reinforcing the idea that, despite differences, the nation must come together.
Biden has already spoken with Trump and extended an invitation for a meeting at the White House, which the Trump campaign indicated the former president looks forward to attending. The two have maintained a contentious relationship since the 2020 election, with Biden consistently framing Trump’s potential return to the White House as challenging democratic principles.
Trump, on the other hand, has called Biden the “worst president in the history of this country” and has openly disparaged Biden’s policies, calling them “disastrous.” This back-and-forth escalated as Trump’s supporters used Biden’s remarks to rally against what they saw as an elitist attitude from the Democratic Party.
Harris formally conceded the race, emphasizing that accepting election results represents a fundamental principle of American democracy. In her concession, Harris stated that the mission and principles that drove her campaign remained steadfast while the election outcome was acknowledged.
Trump’s victory was largely attributed to economic concerns, particularly inflation, with increased support from Hispanic voters and lower-income households. The Republican Party is positioned to control at least one chamber of Congress, potentially strengthening Trump’s ability to implement his agenda when he takes office.
The White House is currently expediting security assistance to Ukraine before the transition, aiming to reinforce the government in Kyiv before Trump assumes the presidency. Economic policies, including potential tariffs, could create tensions with China during Trump’s second term.
The election results have crystallized the partisan divide between college-educated and non-college-educated voters, with Trump making significant inroads among Latino men and working-class voters across the country.