U.S. President Joe Biden is set to address the nation on Thursday, pledging a peaceful transition of power to Donald Trump after Trump’s decisive victory over Kamala Harris in the recent election.
In what promises to be a poignant moment, Biden will speak from the White House Rose Garden at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT) to discuss the election outcome and the upcoming transition to Trump’s administration.
Biden, now 81, stepped out of the race against Trump in July 2024, passing the Democratic ticket to Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite her efforts, Trump’s unexpected comeback poses a serious challenge to Biden’s legacy.
Determined to set a contrasting tone to Trump’s past response to electoral defeat, Biden aims to showcase a spirit of unity. Following Trump’s loss in 2020, his refusal to concede led to a tumultuous period, including the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump, asserting unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, also bypassed standard transition protocols and chose not to attend Biden’s inauguration.
The White House confirmed that Biden had reached out to Trump on Wednesday, “reaffirming his commitment to a smooth transition and emphasizing the importance of national unity.” The two rivals are expected to meet shortly, marking their first face-to-face since Biden exited the race earlier this year. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung expressed Trump’s appreciation for Biden’s call and his anticipation for their upcoming meeting.
A New Political Landscape
Trump’s return signals a significant shift in U.S. politics. Exit polls indicate voters backed Trump’s hardline policies over Biden and Harris’s leadership, particularly on issues like economic stability and inflation. World leaders have already extended messages of cooperation to Trump, even as concerns linger over his nationalist “America First” agenda and his plans for steep import tariffs.
The spotlight now turns to Trump’s cabinet picks, with names like Elon Musk and vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr. rumored to be under consideration. Trump’s transition team has promised to prioritize assembling “the best people” in the coming days and weeks.
Trump has also hinted he may redirect the U.S. approach to Ukraine, potentially reducing military aid and suggesting that Kyiv might need to negotiate territorial concessions with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump in a recent call, urging a “just peace” as Ukraine continues to defend against Russian advances.
Trump’s administration is likely to unwind Biden’s environmental initiatives, favoring a return to oil production with a “drill, baby, drill” approach.
For Biden, his ultimate objective was a Harris win to prevent a Trump resurgence, though some Democrats argue he waited too long to step aside. Biden praised Harris after her concession speech on Wednesday, saying, “What America witnessed today was the Kamala Harris I know and deeply respect.”
Interestingly, one point of commonality between Biden and Trump remains: their age. At 78, Trump will take office as the oldest sitting president in U.S. history, surpassing Biden, who will conclude his term in January at age 82.