President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday, emphasizing the importance of an orderly transition to President-elect Donald Trump after his decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Speaking from the Rose Garden, Biden said the American people deserve a “peaceful and orderly” transfer of power, adding that "in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails.”
Biden said he hoped Trump's victory would reassure the American people that the election system was fair and safe, a subtle nod to Trump's refusal to accept his own election loss in 2020.
"I also hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent, and it can be trusted, win or lose," Biden said.
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Biden touched on one of the challenges he and Harris couldn't overcome in this election — the state of the economy — noting that while some of the legislations his administration passed is being felt by the American people, "the vast majority of it will not be felt" for 10 years.
“We have legislation we passed that’s just, only now, just really kicking in,” Biden said.
He closed by saying that defeat doesn't mean one is defeated. “Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgettable," he said. “America endures. We’re going to be ok, but we need to stay engaged.”
On Wednesday, the White House announced that Biden had spoken to Trump and expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition, while emphasizing the importance of working to bring the country together. Biden invited the man he ousted from the White House four years ago to an Oval Office meeting to prepare to return the keys.
“President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call,” said Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung.
Biden's chief of staff later Wednesday nudged the Trump team to sign the required federal agreements necessary to begin an orderly presidential transition, a White House official said.
A source with knowledge of the Trump campaign said transition talks to take over power on Jan. 20, 2025, had not begun in earnest. Instead, the president-elect was busy taking calls from leaders, domestic and international, donors and key supporters. Transition discussions are expected to ramp up later in the week, as attention turns to naming an inaugural committee and a formal transition team.
Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients reached out to Trump transition co-chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon to reiterate the important role the agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration play in beginning a presidential transition. The White House official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive transition planning.
The delay is holding up the federal government’s ability to begin processing security clearances for potential Trump administration national security appointees, which could limit the number of his staff who could work on sensitive information by Inauguration Day. It also means they can’t yet access federal facilities, documents and personnel to prepare for taking office.
The agreements are required by the Presidential Transition Act, and require the president-elect’s team to agree to an ethics plan and to limit and disclose private donations. Congress, in the act, set a deadline of Sept. 1 for the GSA agreement and Oct. 1 for the White House agreement, in an effort to ensure that incoming administrations are prepared to govern when they enter office on Jan. 20.
Lutnick and McMahon released a statement late Wednesday saying Trump will be selecting personnel for his administration in the “days and weeks ahead," but did not address the agreements with the Biden administration.
“As he chooses the best people to join his team and best policies to pursue, his transition team will ensure the implementation of President Trump’s common sense agenda starting on Day 1,” they said.
Biden also called Harris to salute her for her campaign. And Trump and Harris spoke on a call where the president-elect "acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country,” according to Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.
