Biden congratulates Trump and promises a “peaceful and orderly” transfer of power

President Biden addressed the nation from the Rose Garden on Thursday after his Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the 2024 presidential election to President-elect Trump.

Biden announced that he spoke with Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him on his victory and assure him that the entire Biden administration would work with his team “to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.”

“This is what the American people deserve,” Biden said.

He also praised Harris for running “an inspiring campaign,” saying she had “great character” and “backbone like a ramrod.”

Biden took up themes of unity and spoke of political campaigns as a “competition of competing visions.”

“A country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country has made. I've said many times that you can't just love your country when you win. You can't love your neighbor just by agreeing. Something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, you don't see yourself as an opponent, but as fellow Americans.

The president also said he hopes the 2024 election will “resolve the question of the integrity of America’s electoral system.”

“It’s honest, it’s fair and it’s transparent and you can trust it. Win or lose.”

The televised address comes days after Harris lost the presidential election to Trump on Tuesday.

Harris conceded on Wednesday. In a staff memo, her campaign manager and Biden ally Jen O'Malley Dillon called the defeat “unfathomably painful.”

“It will take a long time to process. But the work of protecting America from the impact of a Trump presidency begins now,” she promised.

This is a developing story and will be updated.