Biden Promises Americans an Orderly Transition of Power to Trump

I know for some people, it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss. Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. I’ve said many times, you can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree. I will do my duty as president. I’ll fulfill my oath and I’ll honor the Constitution. On Jan. 20, we’ll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America. Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory. And I assured him that I’d direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve. Yesterday, I also spoke with Vice President Harris. She’s been a partner and a public servant. She ran an inspiring campaign and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much: her character. She has a backbone like a ramrod. She has great character — true character. She gave her whole heart and effort, and she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran. Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up. The American experiment endures. We’re going to be OK, but we need to stay engaged. We need to keep going. And above all, we need to keep the faith.