Biden congratulates Trump, pledges ‘peaceful and orderly’ transfer of power

President Biden addressed the nation from the Rose Garden on Thursday after his vice president, Kamala Harris, conceded the 2024 presidential election to President-elect Trump.

Biden announced he spoke with Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his victory and assure him that the entire Biden administration will work with his team “to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.” 

“That’s what the American people deserve,” Biden said. 

He also praised Harris for running “an inspiring campaign,” and said she has “great character” and “backbone like a ramrod.” 

Hitting themes of unity, Biden spoke about political campaigns as a “contest of competing visions.” 

“A country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. 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. Something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, you see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans.” 

The president also said he hopes the 2024 election will “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.” 

The televised address comes days after Harris lost the presidential election to Trump on Tuesday.

Harris conceded on Wednesday. In a staff memo, her campaign manager and Biden ally Jen O’Malley Dillon called the defeat “unfathomably painful.” 

“This will take a long time to process. But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now,” she vowed.

This is a developing story and will be updated.