Saturday will go down as one of the most memorable and historic days in U.S. political history. But while national media outlets lined up to declare that Joe Biden had defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th President of the United States, the current president has no plans of turning over the keys to the White House without a big fight.
Biden’s plan is to look forward, and he plans on addressing the country on national television Saturday night. He released a statement saying his intent is to galvanize and unite what has become a bitterly divided nation.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris,” Biden said in a statement. “In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted, proving once again that democracy beats deep in the heart of America. With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.”
President Trump was at his golf club in Virginia when the news broke that Biden had been declared the winner of the election. It was the first time the president had left the White House since the election on Tuesday. Like Biden, Trump was looking forward as well, claiming in a tweet earlier Saturday morning (which was flagged by Twitter) “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!”
Early Saturday afternoon, after the election was called for Biden, Trump said he planned to really dig in on fighting the outcome in the courts on Monday, saying in a statement of his own, “Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots.”
In cities like Washington, D.C., and New York, crowds began gathering in reaction to the election results. As of mid-afternoon Eastern time on Saturday, there had been no rioting or violence at the gatherings.
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