President Joe Biden said there will be a “peaceful transfer of power” on Jan. 20, 2025, vowing to uphold a longstanding norm after Donald Trump’s commanding win in the election.
In remarks at the Rose Garden on Thursday, Biden spoke about the importance of accepting the choice of the majority.
“The struggle for the soul of America since our very founding has always been an ongoing debate and it’s still vital today,” he said.
“I know for some people, it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss,” he added. “Campaigns are a contest of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. … You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree.”
Biden lauded Harris for running an “inspiring” campaign, and he said he has assured Trump that his administration would work with the president-elect’s team for a “peaceful and orderly transition.”
Biden’s pledge of a peaceful transition of power is in stark contrast to Trump’s refusal to accept the election results four years ago and the Jan. 6, 2021, violence that ensued. Trump also skipped Biden’s inauguration in 2021, bucking a 150-year tradition.








