The president also praised Harris and her campaign for her wholehearted effort in the race.
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden on Nov. 7 promised a peaceful transition of power to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
In remarks at the White House on Thursday, the president said he spoke with Trump on Nov. 6 to congratulate him on winning the 2024 election.
“I assured him that I will direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition,” the president said.
Speaking from the Rose Garden, the president said: “I know for some people, it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss. Campaigns are a conflict of competing visions, the country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice.”
Trump has won five of the seven battleground states so far to clinch 295 electoral votes and is projected to be the first Republican presidential candidate in 20 years to win the national popular vote.
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the election to Trump in a Nov. 6 speech to her supporters in Washington. She also called Trump on Nov. 6 to offer her congratulations and promised a peaceful transition.
Biden did not respond to questions from reporters about what went wrong for the Democratic ticket in the election.
During his remarks, Biden praised his administration, stating: “Don’t forget all that we have accomplished in this presidency. Not because I’m president, because of what we’ve done.”
Biden also praised Harris and her campaign for her wholehearted effort in the race.
“She has great character, true character,” he said.
“She and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran.”
Before concluding his remarks, Biden assured Democrats: “We’re going to be OK. We need to stay engaged.”
Trump will meet with Biden soon, according to a Nov. 6 statement issued by the Trump campaign.
“President Joe Biden called President Donald J. Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current administration and the incoming administration,” Steven Cheung, Trump campaign communications director, said in the statement.
“President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”
In Harris’s concession speech, she urged her supporters to accept the results of the election and vowed to continue fighting for “freedom and justice.”