Biden pledges ‘peaceful transition’, dodges ironies in US election defeat
Al Jazeera
Joe Biden offered Donald Trump congratulations on his election victory, and also tried to console Democrats.
A smiling US President Joe Biden has pledged to ensure a “peaceful transition of power” on January 20 when former president and now President-elect Donald Trump is due to be inaugurated as the country’s 47th head of state.
“I will do my duty as president,” Biden told a crowd of senior officials and staff during a brief seven-minute address on Thursday in the White House’s Rose Garden. “On January 20th, we will have a peaceful transfer of power.”
Offering Trump his congratulations, Biden said “we accept the choice the country made” as he tried to send an upbeat message despite the gloom in his Democratic Party.
Biden said he had also promised a smooth transition in a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, during which he invited the Republican leader to a meeting at the White House.
Biden said he also spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris over the phone on Wednesday to congratulate her on her run for the presidency, despite the loss. “She ran an inspiring campaign,” Biden said on Thursday about Harris. “She has a backbone like a ramrod,” he added.
