Biden on Trump’s victory: ‘You can’t love your country only when you win’

For a long time after winning the 2020 election, Joe Biden refrained from saying Donald Trump’s name as if he were Voldemort — “he who shall not be named” — in Harry Potter. Whether out of superstition or taboo, the president referred to his predecessor only as the “previous president” or “my predecessor.” Now, however, that predecessor has become his successor. On Thursday, Biden appeared at the White House to address his political rival’s overwhelming victory in Tuesday’s presidential election. He said Trump’s name, but seized the opportunity to highlight the contrast between the two with a phrase that has defined his campaign against the former president: “You can’t love your country only when you win.”

In a speech delivered from the White House Rose Garden, Biden took the opportunity to offer a lesson on the basic tenets of democracy, implicitly drawing a distinction between the transition of power in 2020 — marred by the storming of the U.S. Capitol — and how it will unfold now. He reaffirmed the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, which Republicans have consistently questioned — even now, after the Democrats’ defeat. He also called for national reconciliation and an effort to “bring down the temperature” in the increasingly heated political climate.

“The people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully. We are in a democracy. The will of the people always prevails. Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him that I am directing my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve,” Biden said. In his phone call with Trump, Biden extended an invitation to meet in the Oval Office, which Trump accepted. The meeting is expected to take place in the coming days.

Trump won an election that Biden had originally expected to contest himself. At the time, Biden thought he was the only one who could beat Trump, as he was able to in the 2020 election. However, that aspiration faded after the CNN debate in Atlanta at the end of June. Reluctantly, Biden handed the baton over to Vice President Kamala Harris, who, as he feared, was unable to defeat Trump, in part due to the weight of Biden’s own presidential legacy.

Biden had warm words for Harris on Thursday. “She’s been a partner and a public servant. She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much: her character,” he said. “She gave her whole heart and effort, and she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran.”

“The struggle for the soul of America since our very founding has always been an ongoing debate,” he said, reusing an expression that served as the slogan of his 2020 campaign. “I know for some people, this is a time victory, to state the obvious. For others, it is a time of loss. Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice that the country has made. I have said many times, you cannot love your country only when you win. You cannot love your neighbor only when you agree. Something I hope we can do, regardless of who you voted for, is to see each other, not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans. Bring down the temperature,” he urged. “On January 20, we will have a peaceful transfer of power in America.”

Biden appeared smiling as he delivered a speech lasting just over six minutes. Among those in attendance were members of his Cabinet and White House staff, who applauded him enthusiastically. The president took the opportunity to defend his legacy, which had been questioned in the wake of the Democrats’ defeat. “I know it’s a difficult time. I hear you and I see you. Don’t forget all that we accomplished. It has been an historic presidency, not because I’m president, but because of what we’ve done, what you’ve done, a presidency for all Americans. Much of the work we have done is already being felt by the people, but the vast majority of it will be felt over the next 10 years.

Biden made special reference to the trillion-dollar infrastructure plan approved by Congress during his presidency, although the impact is only starting to take effect. “We are leaving behind the strongest economy in the world. I know people are still hurting, but things are changing rapidly. Together, we have changed America for the better. Now we have 74 days to finish the term, our term. Let’s make every day count. That’s the responsibility we have to the American people,” he added.

The president, who is nearing 82, sought to focus on the future — a future in which he will no longer be the central figure after more than half a century in politics. “Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable,” he said. “We all get knocked down, but the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up. Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up. That’s the story of America for over 240 years and counting. It is a story for all of us, not just some of us. The American experiment endures. We’re going to be okay, but we need to stay engaged. We need to keep going and, above all, we need to keep the faith.”

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