WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered his first public remarks on the 2024 Election results, calling Vice President Kamala Harris’ election loss ‘a setback’ while vowing to have a peaceful transfer of power.
“Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable,” Biden said in remarks from the Rose Garden. “A defeat does not mean we are defeated.”
The President said he has directed his administration to work with Trump’s team for a peaceful transition of power.
“For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world,” Biden said. “Where the people, the people vote and choose their own leaders and they do it peacefully. And where in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails.”
“We accept the choice the country made,” he said. “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,” he added.
Biden praised Harris for stepping in under extraordinary circumstances, calling her 107 day run “an inspiring campaign.”
“She has great character, true 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 also used the speech to tout some of the major accomplishments since administration has made, many of which could be undone when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
“We’re going to see over a trillion dollars’ worth of infrastructure work done, changing people’s lives in rural communities and communities that are in real difficulty, because it takes time to get it done,” he said.
“We’re leaving behind the strongest economy in the world,” Biden added.
Biden confirmed he spoke to Trump, inviting the president-elect to a meeting at the White House. The Trump campaign said the former president “looks forward to the meeting”.
Throughout his presidency and while he was a candidate, Biden often said Trump returning to the White House would be a threat to democracy. After Biden’s victory in 2020, Trump stalled on the transition of power and he refused to accept the results of the election and still does not accept those results to this day.
The President had one closing message for the American people in the wake of defeat: to not give up and keep fighting.
“We’re going to be OK, but we need to stay engaged. We need to keep going,” he said. “And above all, we need to keep the faith.”
