WILMINGTON, DE – President-elect Joe Biden called on Americans to unify and vowed to work to bring together a wounded and divided nation in his first speech since winning the presidency on Saturday morning.
“We’ve won with the most votes ever cast for a presidential ticket and we’re seeing all over this nation, and in all cities in all parts of the country, indeed across the world, an outpouring of joy,” Biden said.
The President-elect spoke directly to supporters of President Donald Trump, asking them to give him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris a chance to lead the country.
“This is the time to heal in America,” he said. “They are not our enemies. They’re Americans. I will work to be a president who seeks not to divide but unify. I won’t see red states and blue states, I will always see the United States.”
Biden clinched his victory on Saturday morning after voting data from Pennsylvania over the past four days gave him enough votes to win the state and pass the 270 Electoral Vote threshold needed to win the White House.
As he has said throughout his campaign, Biden said he would announce a task force on Monday to get the coronavirus pandemic under control.
“On Monday, I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as Transition Advisors to help take the Biden-Harris COVID plan and convert it into an action blueprint that starts on January 20th, 2021.That plan will be built on a bedrock of science. It will be constructed out of compassion, empathy, and concern,” he said.
“I will spare no effort — or commitment — to turn this pandemic around.”
Prior to his speech, Biden was introduced by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who made history as the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman to be elected vice president.
In her speech, she touched on that theme and made it a point to say she will not be the last woman to be elected to the highest office in the land.
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last,” she said. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before.”
She went on to say Americans made their voices heard and chose a path of hope and unity over division and fear.
“You delivered a clear message: you chose hope and unity, decency and science, and yes, truth. You chose Joe Biden,” Harris concluded.
Biden concluded his speech with a message of hope for a nation divided and a vision for country for the next four years.
“Ahead to an America that creates jobs with dignity and respect,” Biden said. “Ahead to an America that cures disease — like cancer and Alzheimers. Ahead to an America that never leaves anyone behind. Ahead to an America that never gives up, never gives in.”
