Biden Promises Peaceful Transfer of Power, Says ‘We’ll Be Okay’ Following Election

WASHINGTON — Speaking publicly for the first time since the election, President Joe Biden on Thursday promised a peaceful transfer of power back to President-elect Donald Trump and reassured supporters, “We’re going to be okay.”

Biden appeared in the White House Rose Garden this morning, speaking for under 10 minutes before an audience that included members of his cabinet as well as White House staffers.

The president said he spoke to Trump on Tuesday, congratulating him on his victory and assuring the president-elect that he’s directed his “entire administration” to work with the Trump transition team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.

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

“Yesterday, I also spoke with Vice President Harris,” he continued.

“She’s been a partner and a public servant,” Biden said. “She ran an inspiring campaign and everyone got to see something I learned to respect early on — the strength of her character.

“She gave her whole heart to the effort,” he said of Harris’ 107-day campaign ahead of Tuesday’s election.

“She and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran,” he said.

Biden also paid tribute to the workings of democracy that ensure one presidential administration flows seamlessly on to the next.

“For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self government in the history of the world,” the president said. “That’s not hyperbole. That’s a fact.

“We’re the people. The people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully. And we’re in a democracy. The will of the people always prevails,” Biden continued.

“The struggle for the soul of America since our very founding has always been an ongoing debate that’s still vital today,” he said.

“I know for some people, it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious,” he said. “For others, it’s a time of loss. 

“Campaigns are a contest of competing visions,” Biden continued. “The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made.

“As 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 to hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, is see each other, not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans. Bring down the temperature,” Biden said.

The president also spoke of the fairness of U.S. elections, something Trump questioned after his defeat to Biden.

“I hope we can 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,” he said.

“I also hope we can restore the respect for all our election workers who busted their necks and took risks … we should thank them, thank them for staffing voting sites, counting the votes, protecting the very integrity of the election

“Many of them are volunteers who do it simply out of love for their country, and as their duty as citizens,” he added.

Returning to the pending transition of power, Biden said he would “do my duty as president.”

“I will fulfill my oath, and I will honor the constitution,” he said.

Acknowledging the “incredible staff, supporters and cabinet members” before him, “all the people who’ve been hanging out with me for the last few years,” Biden said he knows this is a difficult time for them.

“You’re hurting. I hear you and I see you,” he said. “But don’t forget all that we accomplished.

“It’s been a historic presidency, not because I’m president, because of what we’ve done, what you’ve done,” Biden continued. “This has been a presidency for all Americans, and much of the work we’ve done is already being felt by the American people.”

He went on to say that many of the things his administration has set into motion are only coming to fruition now or will only do so in the years ahead.

“That’s because it takes time to get it done,” Biden said.

“There’s legislation that we passed that only just now is really starting to kick in,” he said. “Over the next 10 years, we’re going to see a trillion dollars worth of infrastructure down, changing people’s lives in rural communities and communities that are in real difficulty.

“The road ahead is clear, assuming we sustain it,” the president said. “I know people are still hurting, but things are changing rapidly. 

“Together, we’ve changed America for the better. Now we have 74 days to finish the term, our term. Let’s make every day count,” Biden said.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue