Statements from former vice president Joe Biden and President Donald J. Trump struck strikingly different tones, following the Associated Press and several other major other news organizations’ declaration of a Biden victory in the 2020 presidential election Saturday morning.
Biden appeared grateful and called for unity, a defining theme of his campaign.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect [Kamala] Harris,” the statement reads. “In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.”
In a short video posted to Twitter, Harris congratulated Biden on securing the presidency.
“We did it,” she said. “We did it Joe. You’re going to be the next president of the united states”
Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly undermined the election process and doubled down on false claims that he won the election.
“The simple fact is this election is far from over,” the statement reads. “Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor.”
The president has already filed lawsuits in Michigan and Georgia, alleging his campaign hasn’t been granted proper access to the vote-counting process. Courts have already shot down both suits. He threatened to file a similar lawsuit in Nevada.
“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated,” Trump’s statement reads. “The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters.”
