President Biden smiled and greeted staff warmly before acknowledging that “setbacks are unavoidable” in his first public remarks since Vice President Kamala Harris’s striking defeat in the election.
At 81, Biden praised his own legacy and blew a kiss to his outgoing team Thursday morning, while making minimal reference to Harris, 60, who lost to President-elect Donald Trump. Biden had previously stepped aside under pressure from Democratic leaders who raised concerns about his mental acuity.
In his speech, Biden called on Americans to come together, despite recent heated remarks in which he referred to Trump supporters as “garbage.”
“Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable. We all get knocked down, but the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up,” Biden said during his 7-minute address in the Rose Garden.
“Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling on you to get back up,” he added.
Biden reflected on his administration’s legacy, noting that many of the long-term impacts of infrastructure and environmental initiatives would take a decade to fully materialize.
“You can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree,” Biden said—despite his recent criticisms of Trump’s supporters. “Something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, is see each other not as adversaries but as fellow Americans and bring down the temperature,” he urged.
“We accept the choice the country made,” he acknowledged.
Biden also commended Harris’s campaign, calling it “inspiring” and praising her dedication. “She and her entire campaign should be proud of the campaign that she ran.”
Biden had reluctantly relinquished his bid for the Democratic nomination in late July, allowing Harris an abbreviated 107-day campaign. Her early momentum in polls and fundraising waned, leading to defeats in all seven swing states.
The president had initially resisted stepping aside after a difficult debate with Trump on June 27, but was ultimately convinced by Democratic leaders like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and former President Barack Obama.
