President-elect Joe Biden made his first remarks after being called the winner of the 2020 presidential race against Donald Trump, telling celebratory supporters—and Trump supporters: "Let's give each other a chance."
Speaking in Wilmington, Delaware, Saturday night, Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris addressed thousands of raucous supporters and the nation at-large at the Chase Center. The projected winners looked to push back on Trump's claims of voter fraud and move the country forward following Election Day. Biden vowed to form a diverse White House cabinet and thanked African-Americans for supporting him in overwhelming numbers on November 3. Biden said Americans as a whole "are good people" and can accomplish anything if they work together.
"Let's give each other a chance, it's time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again. To make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as enemies. They are not our enemies, they are Americans," Biden said, quoting Ecclesiastes 3:3, a Bible verse that urges there is a "time to heal."
"It's time for our better angels to prevail. At our best, America is a beacon for the globe, we will lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example," Biden continued.
"You've delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory, a victory for we the people, we won with the most votes ever cast for a president of this nation—74 million," Biden said, highlighting celebrations in cities across the country. "I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify. Who sees not red states and blue states, but the United States."
Fireworks, "Bye Don" chants and dancing supporters were all packed into the Delaware riverfront venue Saturday in front of a stage flanked by screens declaring, "The people have chosen hope, the people have chosen empathy."
"You always had my back and I have yours," Biden told Black Americans amid calls to end systemic racism following the controversial deaths of several Black Americans earlier in 2020.
Biden said on Monday he will announce a team of scientists who will fight to end the coronavirus pandemic as soon as he takes office. This week, the U.S. saw multiple days with over 100,000 new cases reported across the country each day.
Biden also vowed to restore the middle-class, make America respected around the world again and to unite people. He touted his wife as a future first lady who respects educators, given that Dr. Jill Biden is a longtime teacher herself. Biden thanked poll workers, local elected officials and his campaign volunteers, saying "I owe you everything."
During her address prior to Biden, Harris quoted late congressman John Lewis, who remarked "democracy is not guaranteed, it's only as strong as our willingness to fight for it, to guard it and never to take it for granted. With the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America. Harris thanked her own family members and touted Biden as a loving family man who is prepared to unite a widely divided country.
"But while I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last," Harris said, as supporters offered roaring applause. Harris said she stands on the shoulders of all the women before her who fought for the right to vote. "Every little girl watching this sees this is a country of possibilities," she said.
This is Biden's third time running for president, he previously ran in 1988 and then in 2008, before being tapped to be then-Senator Barack Obama's running mate 12 years ago.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Benjamin Fearnow is a reporter based out of Newsweek's New York City offices. He was previously at CBS and Mediaite ... Read more
