President Biden pledges ‘peaceful transfer of power’ as Democrats seek reasons for loss

US President Joe Biden has committed to ensuring a “peaceful and orderly transition” to Donald Trump, his Republican predecessor and now successor. “We accept the choice the country made,” the Democrat stated, reiterating his belief that “you can’t love your country only when you win”. Biden also praised Vice-President Kamala Harris as “a partner and a public servant” who conducted an “inspiring” campaign after he withdrew. His initial public remarks following Tuesday’s election, delivered in the White House’s Rose Garden, coincided with Democrats in Washington beginning to assign blame for Ms. Harris’s substantial defeat by Mr. Trump. Some Democrats have faulted Biden for Harris’s election loss, suggesting he should have exited the race sooner or that the 81-year-old should not have sought a second term at all. The incumbent aimed to strike a balance between a conciliatory tone and a message of reassurance, following a challenging campaign season where Harris frequently stated that a Trump victory would imperil democracy, and Trump often characterized the US as a “nation in decline” and a “failed nation”. American democracy is “the greatest experiment in self-government in the world” and “the will of the people always prevails”, Biden asserted. “We lost this battle,” he said. “The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back.” In his comments before an assembly of White House staff and senior members of his administration, Biden addressed an issue that may have cost Harris the White House: the economy. Voters in the swing states that determined the election’s outcome identified the economy as a primary factor driving them to the polls. At his rallies, Trump blamed Biden directly for inflation surging to a 40-year high in June 2022. While Harris highlighted the severe recession during Trump’s term and significant improvements in inflation, she was unable to sway Trump voters who reported feeling more positive about the economy during his first term. However, Biden said supporters should be proud of his “historic” term, which he claimed had resulted in “the strongest economy in the world” and “over $1tn worth of infrastructure work done”. “I know people are still hurting, but things are changing rapidly,” he remarked. Promising to collaborate with Trump’s transition team without delay, Biden stated it was time to “bring down the temperature” in the country. “I also hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system,” he commented, referring to the president-elect’s unproven allegations of fraud after his 2020 defeat, which led many to riot on 6 January 2021