Biden to address Americans on transition from foe Trump

The exercise will inevitably be painful: Joe Biden will address Americans on Thursday to prepare for the transition until January 20 with his worst political enemy, President-elect Donald Trump, who soundly defeated Kamala Harris.

In a configuration that he had perhaps not imagined, the outgoing 81-year-old president, who had left his place in July to his vice-president to represent the Democrats, must speak solemnly at 11:00 a.m. (4:00 p.m. GMT) from the Rose Garden of the White House.

He must “discuss the results of the election and the transition” with the next Republican administration, according to the presidency.

Since his victory, Donald Trump, 45th and soon to be 47th president of the United States, has been congratulated by Joe Biden who defeated him in November 2020, by Barack Obama (2009-2017) whom he succeeded and by Kamala Harris, who on Wednesday acknowledged her defeat.

Mr Biden invited the Republican to the White House on an unspecified date.

The two men are known to hate each other and clashed on television on June 27 during their only debate, which was disastrous for the Democrat, who precipitated his withdrawal from the race for a second term.

– Trump “impatient” –

Donald Trump, who has never conceded defeat in 2020, “is looking forward to this meeting, which should take place soon, and greatly appreciated the call,” his team said.

Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida, November 6, 2024 © AFP – Jim WATSON

Hardly beaten, Kamala Harris pledged to “help” him with the transfer of power and called on her supporters, in tears, in Washington to “accept the results of this historic election.”

The New York real estate tycoon — the target of two assassination attempts during the campaign, charged and convicted in criminal and civil proceedings — insisted to his former rival on the phone on the need to “unify the country,” fractured into two seemingly irreconcilable camps.

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Donald Trump, who will be sworn in on January 20, and who has spent the last three months of his campaign insulting Kamala Harris, found her “strength, professionalism and tenacity” on Wednesday, according to his team.

The vice president “has been an incredible partner,” praised President Biden, praising in a statement the “integrity, courage and temperament” of this former prosecutor and senator from California, born 60 years ago to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father who had emigrated to the United States.

– Shockwave –

Donald Trump's resounding victory has sent shockwaves through the world's leading power and across the world.

Millions of Americans expressed their joy. But millions more are alarmed by the turn that a new Trump presidency would take, with its far-right rhetoric.

While he left in chaos in January 2021, the populist tribune has managed an incredible comeback at the age of 78 by convincing a majority that he understands the socio-economic and security concerns of everyday life.

The president-elect was congratulated by many foreign dignitaries who sometimes did not even wait for his victory to be made official.

He met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Kamala Harris, in Washington, November 6, 2024 © AFP – Brendan SMIALOWSKI

Highly critical of the tens of billions of dollars in arms that the United States has released for kyiv, Donald Trump has pledged to resolve this conflict “in 24 hours” with Russia, but without saying comment.

The war in the Middle East will also be resolved quickly, assured the businessman, who is very close to Israel.

On the economy, Donald Trump promised to “steal jobs from other countries” with tax cuts and customs duties.

A notorious climate skeptic, he has pledged to leave the Paris Agreement again.

And he has promised the “largest operation” ever seen to expel millions of illegal immigrants from the border with Mexico.

Donald Trump, whom Democrats and critics fear will govern as a “tyrant”, remains vague on abortion rights that the Supreme Court undermined in 2022.

He will be able to rely on the Senate, which the Republicans took back from the Democrats. His party is also on track to retain the majority in the House of Representatives.

This would give him almost full powers.

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