Biden to Address Nation on Election Results US President Joe Biden is set to make a somber address on Thursday, November 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) in the Rose Garden of the White House. The address will focus on the election results and the transition of power to his political rival, Donald Trump, who won the election by a wide margin, securing his second term in office. This follows a crushing defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.
Biden Concedes and Calls for Unity In an agonizing moment for the 81-year-old president, Biden will vow to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to Trump, despite their long history of acrimony. Biden, who withdrew from the presidential race in July after facing mounting challenges, handed the Democratic nomination to Harris. However, with Trump’s stunning comeback, Biden’s presidency is now poised for a dramatic shift, with his legacy under threat. Despite the loss, Biden is calling for unity, emphasizing the importance of bringing the nation together during this difficult transition.
Trump’s Victory Marks a Radical Shift Trump’s victory represents a massive transformation of the political landscape in the United States. His overwhelming win reflects voter dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration, particularly regarding economic policies, inflation, and the handling of the border crisis. Exit polls revealed that Trump’s hardline right-wing policies resonated with voters, leading to a rejection of Biden and Harris’s record.
World leaders have already pledged to work with Trump despite global concerns about his “America First” rhetoric and his promises to impose tariffs on foreign imports. Trump’s second term is expected to be less constrained than his first, potentially undoing large parts of Biden’s policy achievements, particularly in the areas of military aid to Ukraine and climate change.
A New Era of Trump’s Leadership In his second term, Trump is expected to take aggressive actions to dismantle Biden’s legacy, starting with policies related to military aid for Ukraine. Trump, who has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, is expected to pressure Kyiv into making territorial concessions to end the war. His “America First” approach also includes plans to rollback Biden’s green energy policies, with Trump pledging to resume extensive oil drilling in the U.S.
Trump’s transition team has already signaled that he will seek “the best people” to join his administration, with speculation surrounding high-profile individuals such as Elon Musk and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for prominent roles.
Biden Reflects on Kamala Harris’ Campaign Biden, in his statement after Harris’ concession speech on Wednesday, praised his vice president’s campaign, calling it “historic” despite the defeat. “What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire,” Biden said, acknowledging her efforts in a campaign overshadowed by rising economic concerns and dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of key issues.
A Shared Milestone of Age Biden and Trump, despite their stark political differences, share a common trait — both are set to break records as the oldest-ever sitting U.S. presidents. Biden, who is 81, will step down in January 2025, just two years short of Trump, who at 78 is on track to surpass Biden’s record by the time his second term concludes in 2029.
