Biden refers to Harris’ loss as “setback” after Trump’s victory

Washington — President Biden referred to Vice President Kamala Harris’ defeat by Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election as a “setback” Thursday morning, in his first remarks on the election.

“Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable,” President Biden said. “A defeat does not mean we are defeated.”

He said he’d direct his administration to work with the president-elect’s team for a “peaceful and orderly transition” of power, urging the nation to embrace unity and restore its faith in America’s electoral system after Trump’s decisive victory over Harris. 

“For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world,” the president said in an address in the White House Rose Garden, continuing, “where the people, the people vote and choose their own leaders and they do it peacefully. And where in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails.”

The president also praised Harris’ campaign during his brief remarks, which lasted about six minutes.

“She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much — her character,” Mr 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.” 

Mr. Biden spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris over the phone on Wednesday to congratulate her on her campaign, despite the loss. In a statement Wednesday he said when he backed her to become the nominee that selecting Harris as his running mate was “the best decision I made.”

The former president “looks forward to the meeting,” said Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement. He said Trump “very much appreciated the call.”

Throughout the campaign, Mr. Biden repeatedly framed a possible Trump return to the White House as a threat to democracy, and the two men have been bitter rivals since they faced off in the 2020 presidential election. After Mr. Biden’s victory, Trump stalled the transition of power as he refused to accept the results of the election. 

Mr. Biden’s address to the nation came after Harris formally conceded the race Wednesday afternoon in a speech delivered from her alma mater, Howard University, where she stressed that the results of the election must be accepted while reiterating her commitment to a peaceful transfer of power.

“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results,” Harris said. She said that principle “distinguishes democracy from monarchy and tyranny.”

The vice president, who stepped into the campaign in late July, said that while she concedes the election, “I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”