Biden Urges Unity After Trump Win, Says 'Giving Up Is Unforgivable'

In a Rose Garden address Thursday following the presidential election, President Joe Biden acknowledged Donald Trump's victory and reaffirmed his commitment to a peaceful transition.

"For over 200 years, America has carried out the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world. And that's not hyperbole, that's a fact," Biden said, emphasizing that democracy reflects the will of the people.

Biden said he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump and praised Vice President Kamala Harris for her "great character" and "backbone like a ramrod." He urged Americans to respect each other despite political differences.

You can't love your country only when you win. You can't love your neighbor only when you agree,” he said.

Stressing the integrity of the U.S. electoral process, Biden defended it as "honest, fair, and transparent." He expressed gratitude to election workers for safeguarding democracy, adding, "We should thank them… for protecting the very integrity of the election."

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Reflecting on his administration's accomplishments, Biden said it achieved transformative infrastructure projects benefiting rural and struggling communities. "We're going to see over a trillion dollars' worth of infrastructure work done," he said, adding that the full impact of these projects would unfold over the coming decade.

Biden urged resilience: "Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable," he said.

The president thanked supporters and his staff, celebrating their efforts over the past four years. "It's been a presidency for all Americans… Together, we've changed America for the better," he said.

Biden's remarks come as Democrats reflect on the election outcome, with some attributing the party's defeat to the outgoing president’s prolonged candidacy. Politico reports that some party members felt Harris had limited time to campaign independently of Biden's policies.

Meanwhile, Trump's victory has sparked investor optimism for pro-business policies.

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