US President Joe Biden is preparing to speak to the American public, promising a peaceful transfer of power to Donald Trump following his electoral victory over Kamala Harris.
Mr. Biden will address the nation from the Rose Garden at the White House at 11am (4pm Irish time) to “discuss the election results and the transition” to Mr. Trump’s second term.
At 81, Mr. Biden exited the race against Mr. Trump in July, passing the Democratic nomination to his vice president, Ms. Harris. However, he now faces the possibility of seeing his legacy dismantled by the Republican’s remarkable resurgence.
Nevertheless, Mr. Biden seems intent on presenting a clear contrast to Mr. Trump, who has refused to acknowledge his defeat in the contentious 2020 election, culminating in the violent assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters on January 6, 2021.
The White House indicated that Mr. Biden spoke with Mr. Trump yesterday, expressing his dedication to a smooth transition and highlighting the importance of uniting the country.
Donald Trump will become the 47th president of the United States
Mr. Biden is taking a presidential stance by reaching out to Mr. Trump and inviting him to meet at the White House.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung stated that Mr. Trump “looks forward to the meeting, which will happen shortly, and greatly appreciated the call.”
This will be their first encounter since Mr. Biden’s challenging debate performance against Mr. Trump in June, which led to his withdrawal from the race.
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The United States and the world are entering a dramatically altered political era following Mr. Trump’s decisive victory.
US voters have shown support for his hardline right-wing policies while rejecting the records of Mr. Biden and Mr. Harris, particularly regarding economic issues and inflation, according to exit polls.
World leaders have promptly expressed their willingness to collaborate with Mr. Trump, despite widespread concerns regarding his nationalist ‘America First’ stance and his pledges to impose significant tariffs on overseas imports.
Mr. Trump’s selections for his White House team will be under scrutiny, with notable figures like the world’s wealthiest man Elon Musk and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly in consideration for positions.
The Trump campaign’s transition team stated that “in the coming days and weeks,” Mr. Trump would be searching for the “best people.”
Armed with a sweeping mandate, the second Trump administration is anticipated to operate more freely than his first turbulent term, potentially dismantling significant portions of Mr. Biden’s legacy.
Mr. Trump may begin by terminating the incumbent’s military aid totaling billions of dollars to Ukraine amid Russia’s 2022 invasion.
He has consistently hinted at ending the conflict by pressuring Ukraine to negotiate territorial concessions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Mr. Trump has often praised.
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(Above: People near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home reacting to the election victory)
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky reached out to Mr. Trump yesterday to congratulate him and advocate for a “just peace.”
Mr. Trump is also returning to the White House as a climate change skeptic, ready to dismantle Mr. Biden’s environmental policies with his commitment to “drill, baby, drill” for oil.
Ultimately, Mr. Biden’s legacy was intended to be a victory for Ms. Harris that would keep Mr. Trump from regaining power—yet many Democrats believe he delayed too long in stepping aside for his vice president.
He honored Ms. Harris after her concession speech, stating that “what America saw today [Wednesday] was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire.”
However, one factor shared by both Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump is their age.
Already, Mr. Trump, at 78, is on the path to surpass Mr. Biden’s record as the oldest sitting president during his four-year term. He will exceed Mr. Biden, who is expected to step down at the age of 82 in January.
