President Joe Biden will address the nation on Thursday, pledging to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to Donald Trump after his political rival secured a decisive victory over Kamala Harris in the recent election. Biden is set to speak from the White House Rose Garden at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) to “discuss the election results and the transition” to Trump’s second term.
At 81, Biden had withdrawn from the race against Trump in July 2024, passing the Democratic nomination to Vice President Kamala Harris, only to see his legacy potentially overshadowed by Trump’s surprising comeback. Despite this, Biden is determined to present a stark contrast to Trump, who famously refused to accept his 2020 election defeat, culminating in the violent January 6, 2021, Capitol riot by his supporters.
Trump, baselessly claiming voter fraud, also skipped Biden’s inauguration and obstructed the standard transition process. The White House confirmed that Biden spoke with Trump on Wednesday, emphasizing his commitment to a smooth transition and the need to unite the country. Biden has worked to maintain a presidential tone, reaching out to Trump and inviting him to the White House despite their longstanding rivalry. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump “looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”
This will mark the first meeting between the two since Biden’s lackluster debate performance against Trump in June, which led to his exit from the race.
Trump’s Return to Power
The political landscape in the U.S. and around the world has shifted dramatically after Trump’s sweeping victory. Exit polls indicated that voters supported Trump’s hardline right-wing policies while rejecting Biden and Harris’s record, particularly on the economy and inflation. World leaders quickly pledged cooperation with Trump, despite concerns over his “America First” approach and promises to impose large tariffs on imports.
Attention now shifts to Trump’s formation of a new administration, with reports suggesting that figures like Elon Musk and vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr. are under consideration for key roles. The Trump campaign’s transition team announced Wednesday that Trump would work in the coming days and weeks to identify “the best people” for his administration.
Trump is expected to take immediate action, including potentially halting military aid to Ukraine, which Biden has supported in its war against Russia. Trump has suggested he could end the war by pressuring Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump has repeatedly praised. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him and call for a “just peace.”
Trump’s return to the White House also signals a rollback of Biden’s environmental policies, with Trump pledging to ramp up oil production through his “drill, baby, drill” approach.
Biden’s Legacy and the Future
Biden had hoped for a Harris victory to prevent Trump’s return to power, but many Democrats believe he delayed stepping aside for his VP too long. Following Harris’s concession speech on Wednesday, Biden paid tribute to her, saying, “What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire.”
A notable similarity between Biden and Trump is their age. At 78, Trump will soon become the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, surpassing Biden, who will leave office in January at age 82.
