Biden to Deliver Nationwide Address Early Tomorrow... Likely to Emphasize 'Smooth Power Transition' (Comprehensive)

[US Election 2024]

U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver a national address at the White House on the 7th (local time). President Biden, who will step down in January next year, previously congratulated Republican candidate Donald Trump, who won the November 5th election, in a phone call.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to the White House on the 6th, President Biden is scheduled to speak at the White House Rose Garden starting at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on the 7th (1 a.m. Korean time on the 8th). At this event, President Biden is expected to emphasize his commitment to faithfully managing state affairs during the remainder of his term and reaffirm his intention for a smooth transfer of power.

President Biden also spoke with President-elect Trump on the same day. A White House official stated, "President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transfer of power and emphasized the importance of efforts to unite the country," adding, "He also invited President-elect Trump to meet at the White House. They will coordinate a specific date in the near future." Shortly after, the Trump campaign confirmed the call and said, "Trump is looking forward to the upcoming meeting."

Originally, President Biden was expected to run against former President Trump again in this election following the 2020 presidential election, but after the first TV debate between the candidates hosted by CNN aired, concerns about his advanced age and cognitive abilities spread, leading him to withdraw from the Democratic presidential candidacy in July and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. On this day, President Biden comforted Vice President Harris, who lost the election, in a statement saying, "What America saw today was Kamala Harris, whom I know well and respect. She was a great partner and public official full of integrity, courage, and character."

Meanwhile, the 47th U.S. presidential election held the previous day ended in a landslide victory for former President Trump, defying expectations of a razor-thin race. Like in 2016, former President Trump swept all three Rust Belt battleground states in the former Democratic stronghold known as the ‘Blue Wall,’ securing 295 electoral votes as of 10:30 a.m. Korean time. If all votes are counted, former President Trump is projected to secure 312 electoral votes, while Vice President Harris is expected to have 226 electoral votes.