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President Joe Biden urged Democrats to keep up the fight after President-elect Donald Trump‘s comeback victory and Republicans retaking the Senate and likely the U.S. House.
In his first speech since Election Day in the White House rose garden, a tanned Biden celebrated what he dubbed “a historic presidency” and pledged a smooth transition in January. Still, he acknowledged the widespread defeat and urged Democrats to get back up and keep moving.
“Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable … A defeat does not mean we are defeated,” Biden said. “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.”
Democrats are smarting over their decisive loss to Trump and looking at what went wrong. Biden still insists he could have won the presidential race had he remained at the top of the ticket, but a more common sentiment is that he should have dropped out much sooner to allow for an open primary.
He did not get into those questions during his six-minute speech, showering only praise on Vice President Kamala Harris and pledging that his party would continue to fight.
He pledged to work with Trump on a peaceful transition and told Democrats, “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
Biden ultimately dropped out following a disastrous June 27 debate and will end a 52-year run in Washington when he leaves office on Jan. 20.
He described Harris as 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,” Biden said. “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.”
With staff members and Cabinet officials seated before him in the Rose Garden, the president tried to sound an upbeat message as all of them will exit their jobs on Jan. 20.
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And yet, in a show of contrast with Trump, Biden made a point of promising to congratulate Trump and pledging a smooth transition that was denied him when he took office four years ago.
“I will do my duty as president,” Biden said. “I’ll fulfill my oath, and I will honor the Constitution on Jan. 20. We’ll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America. To all our incredible staff, supporters, Cabinet members, all the people who have been hanging out with me for the last 40 years — God love you.
