How To Watch Joe Biden Address to Nation Today
President Joe Biden is set to address the nation Thursday, following Kamala Harris ' election defeat, and is expected to try to assure America of a smooth transition of power to President-elect Donald Trump .
The vice president has already told Trump she would work with Biden to ensure the handover would be "unlike what we saw in 2020," according to Harris' campaign chair.
Biden will address the nation at 11 a.m. ET to "discuss the election results and the transition" to Trump's second term, the White House said Wednesday. The Rose Garden speech will be streamed live on the White House's YouTube page as well as on C-SPAN.
It comes after Trump's unexpected swing to victory in Tuesday's election, which was being called as win with 295 Electoral College votes to Harris' 226.
Polls had predicted a tight election, but gave Harris a slight edge over Trump by Tuesday. However, the vice president's lead had unraveled by the early hours of Wednesday morning when Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina were called for Trump, who went on to win Wisconsin and Michigan, and is currently ahead in Nevada and Arizona.
On Wednesday afternoon, Harris conceded the election, calling President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory.
Newsweek has emailed the offices of Biden, Harris and Trump for comment.
In an email to campaign staff obtained by NBC News, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Harris' campaign chair, said the vice president had told Trump during their call that she would work alongside President Biden to ensure a smooth transition of power, "unlike what we saw in 2020." Harris also expressed her hope that Trump would serve as "a President for all Americans," Dillon added.
Meanwhile, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung noted that during the call, the President-elect had praised Harris for her "strength, professionalism, and tenacity" throughout the campaign, with both leaders underscoring the need to unify the country.
The White House said Biden had also spoken with Trump on Wednesday and "expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together."
In a statement, Cheung said President-elect Trump "appreciated the call."
"President Joe Biden called President Donald J. Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current Administration and the incoming Administration. President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call," he said.
The meeting at the White House will be the first time President Biden and Trump have met since Biden's disastrous debate performance against Trump in June that forced him out of the race, making Harris the candidate.
A date for the meeting has not yet been set, but Cheung said it would "take place shortly."
In a White House statement on Wednesday, President Biden commended Kamala Harris as "a tremendous partner and public servant with integrity, courage, and character."
Biden also highlighted that Harris launched her campaign under "extraordinary circumstances."
Harris "stepped up and led a historic campaign that embodied what's possible when guided by a strong moral compass and a clear vision for a nation that is more free, more just, and full of more opportunities for all Americans," Biden said.
