President Joe Biden is set to address the nation on Thursday, pledging a peaceful transfer of power to Donald Trump after Trump’s decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the recent election. Biden will speak from the White House Rose Garden at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) to “discuss the election results and the transition” as Trump prepares to assume office for a second term.
In July 2024, the 81-year-old Biden withdrew from the race, passing the Democratic nomination to Harris. Now, with Trump’s comeback posing a challenge to Biden’s legacy, the outgoing president is committed to setting a respectful tone. His approach stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s reaction in 2020, when Trump refused to accept his defeat by Biden and the transition process was marred by the January 6, 2021, Capitol assault by Trump supporters.
The White House confirmed that Biden had spoken with Trump on Wednesday, “emphasising his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and underscoring the importance of uniting the country.” Biden has even invited Trump to the White House, marking their first planned encounter since a tense June debate that led to Biden’s exit from the race. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung confirmed Trump “looks forward to the meeting… and very much appreciated the call.”
Trump’s victory has dramatically shifted the political landscape, with exit polls indicating voter support for his hardline right-wing policies and a rejection of the Biden-Harris record, particularly on issues like the economy and inflation. World leaders have responded quickly, pledging cooperation with Trump despite concerns over his nationalist “America First” stance and potential tariffs on imports.
Attention now turns to Trump’s White House team, with figures like Elon Musk and vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr. reportedly under consideration. The Trump transition team announced Wednesday that, in the coming days and weeks, Trump will work to select “the best people” for his administration. One of Trump’s anticipated early actions could be halting military aid to Ukraine, a move he has previously suggested in favor of pressuring Kyiv to negotiate with Russia.
In a congratulatory call to Trump on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged him to support a “just peace.” Trump has expressed a willingness to end the Ukraine conflict through territorial concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has praised in the past.
Trump’s return is also expected to impact environmental policies, as he plans to roll back Biden’s climate initiatives and increase oil production under his “drill, baby, drill” policy.
While Biden’s hope was a Harris victory to prevent Trump’s return, some Democrats feel he may have delayed stepping aside too long. Following Harris’s concession speech on Wednesday, Biden paid tribute, saying, “What America saw today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply admire.”
One shared factor between Biden and Trump, however, is age. At 78, Trump will become the oldest sitting president, surpassing Biden, who will leave office at age 82 in January.
