President Joe Biden Thursday commended the U.S. electoral system highlighting its fairness, transparency and reliability following the presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Addressing his cabinet and the public from the Rose Garden, President Biden said skepticism about the integrity of the election must be laid aside as the voting process is trustworthy.
“l also hope we can later rest the questions about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, fair, and it is transparent, and it can be trusted, win or lose,” he stated.
The results of the election, as Biden puts it, reflect the will of the people.
Biden said he hopes Americans can see past their respective party’s victory or defeat on Election Day and “see each another not as adversaries but as fellow Americans.”
“You can’t love your country only when you win, you can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.”
He also applauded Vice President Kamala Harris, stating he respects her mostly for her “true character,” which she showed during the campaign.
Pledging a peaceful transition
On Jan. 20, 2025, President Biden will fulfil his oath of office by peacefully handing his authority to President-elect Donald Trump. He stated a peaceful transfer of power is what America deserve as a nation.
Comforting his cabinet and staff over the results of the election, Biden expressed compassion and encouraged them to be mindful of the great things his administration accomplished.
“I know this is a difficult time. You are hurting. I hear you and l see you, but don’t forget all that we have accomplished. It’s been a historic presidency,” the president added.
Biden administration achievements
President Biden has managed to achieve several notable milestones despite the continued extreme partisan divide in Washington. In March 2021, through the American Rescue Plan Act, Biden’s administration provided $1.9 trillion toward COVID-19 pandemic relief, along with direct stimulus payments, extended unemployment benefits and support for local governments.
On July 28, 2021, Biden announced the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in November 2021. This piece of legislation provided $550 billion towards infrastructure improvements across country, including roads, bridges, public transit, clean water, broadband expansion and clean energy initiatives. Fortunately, the investments have created millions of good-paying jobs, including a record-high number of jobs in the construction sector.
Biden also signed the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, with $369 billion earmarked for renewable energy projects aiming to reduce the federal deficit. Since he took office, Biden has allocated over $614 billion into private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the U.S.
Will Biden’s achievements sustain through Trump’s administration?
While all of these achievements seem notably great, some may not come to fruition after President-elect Trump takes office, particularly the climate change initiatives. Trump vowed to get the U.S. out of Paris Climate Accord if elected.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), which started open enrollment for health insurance coverage for 2025 on Nov. 1, may be done away with in Trump’s term. The ACA has managed to lower healthcare costs by $800 a year per individual and eliminate “red tape,” according to a White House press release.
Biden has expressed concern for what the future of the ACA might look like in Trump’s administration, stating it would be tragic to lose it, but he vowed it will not happen during his remain months in the White House.
“Just this week, prominent Republicans in Congress threatened to undo this progress and undermine the Affordable Care Act, just like my predecessor tried and failed to do repeatedly. Their plan would rip coverage away from over 45 million Americans, eliminate critical protections for over 100 million people with pre-existing conditions, increase premiums for women and older adults, and erode Medicaid coverage for millions of children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. We won’t let it happen on our watch,” said Biden in a statement.
With 74 days left in his term as of Thursday, Biden has promised to make every day count, stating it is his responsibility to the country and the American people.
Parting with the crowd, the 46th president encouraged U.S. citizens not to give up. He said setbacks are unavoidable but giving up is unforgivable. “We all get knocked down,” he said. “But the measure of our character . . . is how quickly we get up.”
Featured image: Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
Edited by James Sutton
