“Setbacks are inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.”

President Biden addressed the nation from the White House on Thursday, a day after Vice President Kamala Harris conceded defeat in the race against Donald Trump.

This was the first time Biden has spoken publicly since the 2024 election was called for Trump, although he issued a statement praising Harris as “a great partner and public servant full of integrity, courage and character.”

In the Rose Garden, Biden told reporters: “We accept the decision that the country has made.”

“I have often said: You can't just love your country when you win; “You can’t just love your neighbor if you agree,” he said, reiterating that he would oversee a peaceful transition of power from his Trump administration.

Regarding the election results and the voting process, Biden said: “It's honest, it's fair and it's transparent, and you can trust it – whether you win or lose.”

Harris “has great character, true character,” Biden said of his four-term vice president. “She and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they have run.”

Both Biden and Harris called Trump on Wednesday afternoon to congratulate him. Biden also invited Trump to the White House to begin transition preparations, although an exact date was unclear.

Biden told Democrats: “The America of your dreams calls you to rise again – that has been the story of America for 240 years and counting. It's the story for all of us, not just some of us. The American spirit endures.”

“Together we have changed America for the better,” Biden said of his presidency. “Now we have 74 days to finish the semester, our semester. Let’s make every day count.”

The Associated Press called the presidential race around 5:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday after Trump won 276 electoral votes to Harris' 223, although Trump claimed victory at 2:30 a.m. ET during a speech to supporters at a campaign party in Florida explained.

“The result of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” Harris told supporters at Howard University, her alma mater, on Wednesday. “But hear me when I say: The light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”

In the Rose Garden, Biden repeated the statement: “Setbacks are inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.”

In his statement Wednesday, Biden also emphasized that Harris launched her presidential campaign under “extraordinary circumstances” after he dropped out 107 days before the election due to pressure from the Democratic Party following his debate appearance in June.

Harris secured the Democratic nomination within two weeks but had about 100 days to convince voters, compared to Trump, who announced his intention to run in November 2022 and secured the Republican nomination in mid-March .