November 9, 2020: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has been elected as the 46th president of the US. He defeated the incumbent president Mr Donald Trump in an eventful election which kept the US citizen on edge for days. Mr Biden, aged 77, has become the oldest person to be elected as the president.
California senator Kamala Harris, Mr Biden’s running mate, has become the first woman and Indian-American to be elected as the vice president. Celebrations erupted in her ancestral village in Tamil Nadu after the declaration of results. In her victory speech, Ms Harris attributed success to her mother. “I’m thinking about my mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, and the generations of Black women who came before me who believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible,” she said.
Addressing the nation as president-elect, Mr Biden said, “We must restore the soul of America.” “Tonight the whole world is watching America, and I believe that at our best, America is a beacon for the globe. We will lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example,” Mr Biden said in his victory address.
Mr Biden indicated his first focus is on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. “On Monday I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisers. I will spare no effort, none, or any commitment to turn around this pandemic.”
Although the US is deeply divided over several issues like civil rights and coronavirus and saw a bitter campaign, Mr Biden emphasised that he is president of all of the US. “America, I’m honored that you have chosen me to lead our great country. The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans — whether you voted for me or not.I will keep the faith that you have placed in me,” he tweeted on November 7. He also stressed that he will be a “President who seeks not to divide, but to unify.”
Although several media houses have called the race as per the electoral college, Mr Trump and republicans have alleged election fraud. This indicates that the Trump campaign hasn’t conceded yet. Mr Trump tweeted several allegations of election fraud and called this a ‘stolen election’. He had called to stop the vote counting last week and also questioned the media on election results. “Since when does the Lamestream Media call who our next president will be? We have all learned a lot in the last two weeks!,” he tweeted on November 7.
The House and the Senate will hold a joint session in January 2021 to formally elect Mr Biden as the President. He will be inaugurated as the President on 20 Jan 2021 after the swearing in ceremony.
