[ad_1]
President-elect Biden and his future Deputy Harris gave their victory speech in front of enthusiastic supporters. And again Biden adopted a conciliatory tone. He wants to be president of all Americans.
By Claudia Sarre, ARD Studio Washington
When Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris announced the new President of the United States, the crowd in Wilmington, Delaware went wild. Thousands of people with red, white and blue stars and stripes flags have come to celebrate Joe Biden. It is a historic moment. For decades, Biden has been preparing for this victory speech.
“The people spoke. It gave us a clear and convincing electoral victory,” he says proudly. “We won with the most votes a president has ever won in the history of this country: 74 million votes!”
Biden looks ahead
The 77-year-old is presidential, empathetic, and forgiving. And you will get to work immediately. His goal: to reconcile divided Americans. He wants all Americans to trust him, not just those who voted for him.
“I promise to be a president who does not divide, but unites,” he says. “Who does not see red states or blue states, only the United States.” Biden looks to the future, talks about the upcoming challenges of his presidency: the crown pandemic, the economic crisis, the healthcare system, racism, climate change and, last but not least, democracy. He wants to set up a Corona task force on Monday, which will begin work on January 21, the day after he takes office.
Biden does not mention that incumbent Donald Trump will not accept his electoral defeat. Instead, he also asked Trump supporters for reconciliation. It’s time to put the sharp rhetoric aside, cool down, and get back to hearing, Biden explains. “They are not our enemies. They are Americans.”
Biden supporters celebrate in the streets
All day, his followers had been celebrating Biden. Trumpet and cheer concerts were heard in most major cities in the United States, from Washington to Chicago to Los Angeles.
In New York, skyscrapers glowed red, white, and blue. In Washington, hundreds of people spontaneously flocked to Black Lives Matter Plaza in front of the White House to celebrate Biden’s election victory. The church bells rang for minutes.
The relief for many of Washington’s residents was enormous. The capital is considered a democratic bastion: 93 percent of the people voted for Biden. For almost four days, his followers had to tremble for the electoral victory of the Democrats. “We are very happy. The best news! Joe Biden is our 46th president. And Trump is fired!”
Postal votes made the difference
On election night, it looked like the current Trump could win the presidential election. Due to the late counting of mail-in ballots, especially in the state of Pennsylvania, Biden was able to catch up and finally assure the 20 voters in Pennsylvania that were necessary to give him the election victory.
“It’s almost like we’ve won a championship. We saw it coming, but you can really feel the weight drop from the shoulders of the city,” said Adam, 26. And your neighbor Heather has already chilled the champagne.
The only disappointment for many Americans: the fear that Trump will get away with his threat to challenge Biden’s election victory in court.
Since Trump will remain president until January, he can do whatever he wants until then, says Jamal in Washington’s Tacoma Park district. “That’s the only thing that worries me right now.”
