President Joe Biden asked Americans to calm political tensions after Donald Trump won the election over Kamala Harris. In a thoughtful speech from the White House, Biden promised a peaceful transfer of power and urged everyone to see each other as fellow citizens rather than enemies.
As he arrived in the Rose Garden, his staff stood up to cheer. The 81-year-old Biden had dropped out of the race in July and allowed Harris, his vice president, to take the Democratic nomination.
Biden shared that he had congratulated Trump, who has faced two impeachments, and assured him that the transition would be “peaceful and orderly.” He emphasized that on January 20, the power would pass smoothly in America, despite Trump previously refusing to attend Biden’s inauguration.
Biden also encouraged his supporters not to lose hope despite Trump’s reelection, reminding them that a defeat doesn’t mean they are defeated.
His statements contrasted sharply with Trump, who has denied his election defeat four years ago, which led to the January 6 attack on the Capitol by his supporters. Biden invited Trump to the White House for a meeting, marking their first interaction since Biden’s tough debate in June, which led him to leave the race.
World leaders quickly expressed their intentions to work with Trump, despite global concerns over his “America First” approach. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need for stable relations between China and the U.S. in a message to Trump.
Trump, currently at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, is busy preparing his transition team after his strong election win, which is expected to reshape U.S. politics. His campaign announced he would be selecting people to help lead the country soon.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a significant voice in the anti-vaccine movement and now supporting Trump, mentioned that while Trump would not take vaccines away, the administration plans to remove fluoride from the water supply.
Elon Musk, who has backed Trump, may also be considered for a position, with Trump wanting him to audit the government for waste.
Voters choosing Trump’s tough policies signaled a rejection of Biden and Harris’s record, especially regarding the economy and inflation. Trump’s victory marks him as both the oldest person and the first convicted felon elected as the U.S. president, following a chaotic campaign.
With his strong mandate, Trump is expected to roll back many of Biden’s policies. For example, he might cut military aid to Ukraine, aiming for a peace deal, and challenge Biden’s environmental initiatives by promoting oil drilling. Ultimately, Biden had hoped for a Harris victory to keep Trump from power, but many believe he hesitated too long to step aside for her.
