In a moment of profound reflection, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to address the nation on Thursday, vowing a smooth transition of power to his longtime rival, Donald Trump, following Trump’s decisive election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden, 81, will speak from the White House Rose Garden at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) to discuss the election results and his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power. This address comes as Biden witnesses his legacy potentially reversed by Trump’s remarkable comeback, having bowed out of the race earlier this year in support of Harris as the Democratic nominee.
The President appears intent on setting a high standard of decorum, contrasting sharply with Trump’s own refusal to accept the 2020 election results, which led to the January 6 Capitol riots. In a call on Wednesday, Biden reportedly offered Trump his full cooperation for a smooth transition and underscored the importance of unity during this pivotal moment for the nation.
In a move strikingly presidential, Biden extended an invitation for Trump to meet at the White House—a gesture of goodwill despite their contentious history. Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, expressed Trump’s appreciation for the call, adding that the former president “looks forward to the meeting” in the coming days.
Trump’s stunning victory signals a seismic shift in the U.S. political landscape, with exit polls indicating that voters embraced his hardline stance on the economy and inflation while rejecting the record of the Biden-Harris administration. World leaders have reacted swiftly, pledging cooperation despite apprehension about Trump’s nationalist “America First” policies and potential tariffs on foreign imports.
As Trump prepares to assume office, speculation mounts over his potential cabinet picks. High-profile figures like Elon Musk and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are rumored to be in consideration, with the Trump transition team signaling that it will be selecting “the best people” in the coming days and weeks.
With a sweeping mandate, Trump’s second term is likely to bring an aggressive policy overhaul, especially in areas Biden championed. Trump is expected to cut military aid to Ukraine, instead advocating for Kyiv to reach a settlement with Russia. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called Trump to congratulate him while urging a “just peace.”
Trump also appears set to dismantle Biden’s climate policies, instead advocating for expanded domestic oil production under the slogan “drill, baby, drill.” The former president has repeatedly dismissed climate concerns, promising to pivot U.S. energy policy back toward fossil fuels.
For many Democrats, Biden’s hoped-for legacy was a Harris victory that would continue his administration’s trajectory. However, there is disappointment within the party over Biden’s decision to delay stepping aside sooner. Following Harris’s concession speech on Wednesday, Biden praised her resilience, saying, “What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire.”
One factor Biden and Trump share is their age. At 78, Trump is set to surpass Biden as the oldest sitting president, marking a historic generational shift as Biden steps down at age 82. The upcoming transition heralds a new chapter in American politics, with the world watching closely as Trump returns to power.
