US President Joe Biden on Thursday, the 7th of November, after Republican Donald Trump’s election victory, called on Americans to “lower the temperature” and sought to reassure Democrats who were worried about the former president’s stunning comeback, reports Reuters.
Some Democrats have accused the 81-year-old Biden in Harris’ defeat. He gave up on re-election in July after a disastrous televised debate with Trump drew criticism.
“Failure is inevitable. Giving up is unforgivable,” Biden said in the White House Rose Garden, addressing staff who were disappointed by the defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Losing does not mean we are defeated.”
Biden said Tuesday’s election proved the integrity of the US electoral system and promised an orderly and peaceful transfer of power, implicitly rebuking Trump, who sought to overturn his 2020 defeat to Biden and also made baseless allegations of fraud during this year’s campaign.
“I hope that we will be able to get, whoever you vote for, to see each other not as adversaries, but as American colleagues, and lower the temperature,” said Biden. “I also hope that we can put an end to the question of the integrity of the American electoral system. It is fair, just and transparent. And it can be trusted, win or lose.”
Biden invited Trump to a meeting at the White House – Trump did not offer Biden one in 2020 – and the Trump campaign announced that he would attend.
“We lost the fight. The America you dreamed of is calling you to stand up,” he said. Harris also called on Democrats not to give up in Wednesday’s speech.
Some Democrats worried that this loss meant that their values – left-leaning, socially liberal – were now in the minority among Americans. Others were frustrated with the leadership of the party, which they felt had lost touch with voters who want help in tackling the high cost of living.
Biden did not comment on his role in the elections or on the criticism of his party members. He has repeatedly said that he ran in 2020 to “restore the soul of America” after Trump’s chaos. Instead, Biden’s legacy will now be booked with a Republican comeback.
In the coming weeks, Trump will select the staff that will work under him.
Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Susie Wiles, one of his two campaign managers, will become his White House chief of staff, the first woman ever to hold the post.
Trump has also promised positions in his administration to Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and the world’s richest man, and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.