Lyn Frans
President Joe Biden spoke to former President Donald Trump on the phone Wednesday to congratulate him on winning the presidency, the White House said in a statement.
“President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together,” the White House said.
In a remarkable political resurgence, the former president claimed victory in all seven battleground states, securing the necessary 270 electoral votes for a decisive win. The vice president is scheduled to speak at Howard University at 4 p.m., according to the White House.
Related:Kamala Harris Calls Donald Trump To Concede Defeat
The university, where she graduated, hosted a watch party on Election night, and Harris was anticipated to address the crowd once the results were announced. The final results were not reported until the early hours of the morning. If she had been elected, she would have made history as the first HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) graduate to become president.
Biden also spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris on the phone Wednesday to congratulate her on “her historic campaign,” the White House said.
According to the Trump campaign, Trump and Harris spoke by phone on Wednesday. During the call, Harris informed Trump that she would collaborate with Biden to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, in contrast to the transition in 2020, as noted in an email from Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon to campaign staff.
President Joe Biden is set to address the nation on Thursday to discuss the election results and the transition, as stated by the White House.
Earlier that day, Biden called Harris to congratulate her on her historic campaign and Trump to commend him on his victory. He also extended an invitation for Trump to meet with him at the White House, with staff planning to coordinate a specific date soon, according to the White House.
Harris’ defeat came as Trump clinched wins in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin overnight. Trump went on to win another swing state, Michigan, on Wednesday.
