US President Joe Biden pays tribute to Kamala Harris in the first remarks since Donald Trump’s election victory

US President Joe Biden has urged Americans to “turn down the heat” on political debate in his first speech since Donald Trump’s landslide victory in Tuesday’s election.

Mr. Biden, who received a standing ovation in the White House Rose Garden from a crowd that included cabinet, staff and his granddaughter, paid tribute to his vice president, Kamala Harris, who he said he spoke to yesterday.

“She has been a partner and a public servant. She ran an inspiring campaign and everyone got to see something that I learned to respect so much early on – her character. She has the backbone of a ramrod,” he said.

He said “a defeat does not mean we are defeated” and the challenge for Democrats was to get back up. He did not reflect on his role in the election defeat.

“We accept the choice the country made. I have said many times that you cannot only love your country when you win. You cannot only love your neighbor when you agree on something,” he said.

“I hope that regardless of who you voted for, we can see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans. Turn the temperature down.”

Mr. Biden made several remarks in the speech that recalled the way Donald Trump left office in 2021, promising that on Jan. 20 “we will have a peaceful transfer of power.”

“Yesterday I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him that I am directing my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition,” he said.

“This is what the American people deserve.”

He also said he hoped the United States can put to rest questions about the integrity of its electoral system.

“It’s honest, it’s fair and it’s transparent and it can be trusted, win or lose. Also hope we can restore respect for all our election workers who stuck their necks out and took risks in the beginning, we should thank them. “

Different views on financial performance

Mr. Biden said his had been a “historic” presidency “for all Americans” with work that will continue to be felt by Americans for the next 10 years.

“We’re leaving the strongest economy in the world. I know people are still hurting, but things are changing fast. Together, we’ve changed America for the better,” he said.

But earlier in the day, Donald Trump Jr, appearing on Fox and Friends, said Democrats are living in “some kind of vacuum that they just don’t understand.”

“If you look at the failures, there is not a single metric where we are better off today than we were four years ago, economically, geopolitically or otherwise,” he said.

“We went from a time of peace to a time of war. We went from a time of prosperity to a time of poverty, and everyone feels it.”

Mr. Trump Jr. said he would be heavily involved in the transition and help choose his father’s cabinet and the 4,000 government positions that are politically appointed.

It is expected that some of these positions will begin to be posted in the coming days.

The transition is being led by co-chairs Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, who is a former wrestling executive who served in Trump’s first term, but a cast of Trump’s family and friends is expected to be involved, including Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Trump said in his victory speech that former presidential hopeful and anti-vaccination and anti-fluoride activist Robert Kennedy Jr. will be tapped to “help make America healthy again.” Trump has also promised to make his vocal supporter Elon Musk secretary of federal “cost savings.”

Senator Tom Cotton, who had previously been selected to be secretary of defense, has removed himself from consideration, Reuters reports.

About 1,200 positions need Senate confirmation, which will obviously be easier now that Republicans are in the Senate.

While Team Trump is busy building its future, Mr. Biden in the White House with a job to do.

“Now we have 74 days to finish the term, our term, let’s make every day count. That’s the responsibility we have to the American people,” he said.

When he finished speaking, Biden kissed the assembled crowd before retiring to the White House to get back to work.