Biden vows peaceful transition to Trump: ‘A defeat does not mean we are defeated’

President Biden vowed to carry retired a peaceful modulation of power to the incoming medication of President-elect Trump connected Thursday adjacent arsenic helium urged Americans to proceed to combat for Democratic values.

In his archetypal nationalist quality since Election Day, Biden called connected the nation to not springiness up connected his combat for the “soul of America,” contempt Vice President Kamala Harris’ sweeping nonaccomplishment to Trump.

“A decision does not mean we are defeated,” Biden said successful a White House speech. “The America of our dreams is calling for you to get backmost up,” helium added. “We request to enactment engaged, we request to support going we request to support the faith.”

Biden said helium accepts the verdict of the American radical and restated his oft-repeated vow to respect the volition of the electorate, adjacent though astir observers see it to beryllium a repudiation of his one-term presidency.

“We judge the prime the state made,” Biden said. “You can’t emotion your state lone erstwhile you win. You can’t emotion your neighbour lone erstwhile you agree.”

Biden, 81, praised Harris aft her nonaccomplishment to Trump, saying she has “great character, existent character.”

He concisely sought to burnish his bequest by pointing to his achievements similar the historical $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

The president told unit and reporters gathered connected a balmy time successful the Rose Garden that the interaction of the measurement would beryllium felt for years to come.

“Don’t hide what we’ve accomplished. It’s been a historical presidency, for each Americans,” helium said. “The roadworthy up is wide arsenic agelong arsenic we prolong it.”

The president urged unit to tally done the portion during his remaining 2-1/2 months successful the White House.

Biden volition permission bureau aft starring the United States retired of the COVID pandemic, galvanizing planetary enactment for Ukraine aft Russia’s penetration and passing a wide infrastructure package.

But millions of Americans blamed Biden for rampant inflation and concerns astir immigration.

Having beaten Trump 4 years ago connected a pledge to “restore the psyche of the country,” Biden volition request to measurement speech for the antheral who ne'er accepted that triumph and mounted the biggest effort successful past to cling to power.

Trump has besides pledged to radically reshape the national authorities to bespeak his right-wing priorities and rotation backmost galore of Biden’s policies, vows that seemingly resonated with voters.

Some high-ranking Democrats, including advisers to the Harris campaign, person anonymously expressed deep vexation with Biden for failing to admit earlier successful the predetermination rhythm that helium was not physically oregon politically up for the situation of moving for a 2nd term.

Biden loyalists, connected the different hand, person whispered that the sitting president mightiness person done a amended occupation of holding onto key demographic portions of the Democratic base, particularly moving people men.

During his 2020 win, Biden framed himself arsenic a president who would beryllium a span distant from Trump and toward a caller procreation of leaders.

With the backing of Harris and different apical Democrats, Biden decided to tally for 4 much years and steamrolled nominal absorption to expanse to triumph successful the Democratic primaries.

Even though voters said they were unhappy with a repetition of the Biden-Trump race, Biden forged ahead, hoping the rebounding system and calmer ostentation would person voters to springiness him 4 much years.

That each changed successful June erstwhile Biden stumbled done a mediocre statement against Trump that sent alarm bells ringing for Democrats.

As enactment ebbed away, Biden ended his reelection run connected July 21 and endorsed Harris to prime up the Democratic baton, mounting the signifier for her to rapidly unite the enactment and triumph the information by virtual acclamation.