Joe Biden and Kamala Harris first addressed the American people on Saturday night (local time) after being declared the winners of the presidential election earlier in the day. In his victory speech, the new president called on Donald Trump’s supporters to give him a chance. “I understand your disappointment, but let’s stop that harsh rhetoric and listen to each other.”
Biden, who has seen the presidency pass his nose twice before, says he knows what the disappointment of losing feels like. “But if we want to make progress, it is time to listen to each other and not see each other as the enemy.”
“I want us to be united, not divided. I am honored by the trust you have in me. As a president, I don’t see blue or red states (Democratic or Republican states, ed.), Only the United States.”
77-year-old Biden admitted to being surprised by the celebrate that spontaneously emerged on the street after his victory on Saturday. “That was a cry of hope and new confidence that tomorrow will be a better day. With all my heart I will work for your trust.”
Biden thanked his family, the new Vice President Harris and his wife Jill, who will be First Lady from January 20. “I couldn’t possibly have done this without her love and support. I’m so proud of her and the rest of my family.”
Harris: ‘We are ready’
For Kamala Harris, the vice president-elect, it was the first time that she addressed the entire people. The 56-year-old becomes a Democrat the first female vice president of the United States. She is also the first black vice president and the first vice president with an Asian background.
Harris opened her speech with a reference to civil rights activist John Lewis, who passed away in July. “He wrote that democracy is not guaranteed, but is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.”
The Vice President-elect admitted that the last few months have been very difficult. “There were insecurities, struggles. At the same time, we also saw your courage and your resilience.” It is now important for Harris to implement the points from their campaign. “America is ready. And so are Joe and I.”
The elected president and vice president spoke at a drive-in meeting in Biden’s home town of Wilmington, Delaware. Several thousand supporters of Biden were present. In the rest of the country, crowds watch the speech in the street.
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Supporters had to watch the speech from their car, but in practice they were often outside it. That made keeping enough distance, for which the drive-in meetings were intended, difficult. (Photo: ANP)
Biden selected with the popular vote
The president-elect also received the popular vote (majority of votes). With – at the time of publication – more than 75 million votes (4 million more than Trump), Biden enters the history books as the presidential candidate who received the most votes.
At the same time, some 70 million Americans, nearly half of the electorate, remained behind Trump. So a difficult task awaits Biden to bridge the gap that exists.
Due to the American electoral system, it does not have to mean that the candidate with the most votes actually runs off with the winnings. That happened with Trump’s 2016 win: his then rival Hillary Clinton got more votes, but Trump managed to win more electoral votes.
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Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and their partners Jill and Doug watch the spectacular fireworks after their speech. (Photo: ANP)
‘Democracy is at the heart of America’
Earlier in the day, the 77-year-old Democrat said he is honored by the trust the Americans have in him and Harris. “Faced with unparalleled obstacles, a record number of Americans have voted. This proves again that democracy is deeply rooted in the heart of America.”
“We are the United States of America. And there is nothing we cannot achieve if we do it together,” said Biden.
The American president-elect got word of his winnings from his grandchildren. An anonymous employee of Biden’s campaign team says this CNN. Granddaughter Naomi Biden posted a photo on Saturday afternoon Twitter to which Joe Biden is congratulated by his family.
The entire text of Joe Biden’s victory speech is here to find. Kamala Harris’s speech can also be read, you can here.
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