Don out in the cold as Scomo calls Joe
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has joined a chorus of world leaders congratulating president-elect Joe Biden as Donald Trump continues to fight the election result.
“I’ve just spoken to president-elect @Joebiden to congratulate him on his election. There are no greater friends and no greater allies than Australia and the US,” Mr Morrison wrote on Twitter.
The leaders of France, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are among those to have spoken with Mr Biden. And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson drove home his support for Mr Biden by referring to Mr
Trump as the “former president” in parliament.
Despite Mr Biden’s lead in the electoral college exceeding five million votes, Team Trump continues to lodge legal challenges to the count.
While he appeared in public for the first time since the election was called in Mr
Biden’s favour over the weekend, Mr Trump did not issue any public statements.
He was finally declared the winner in Alaska, and was reportedly buoyed by the announcement of a vote audit and hand recount in the tight state of Georgia.
Mr Trump and First Lady
Melania Trump joined VicePresident Mike Pence and his wife Karen at a solemn Veteran’s Day commemoration at Arlington Cemetery.
With COVID-19 cases shattering records across the country, Mr Trump seemed to have all but shelved his normal presidential duties.
Instead, he has remained shut up inside the presidential mansion, pushing an alternate reality that he is about to win and filing lawsuits alleging voter fraud that so far have been backed up by only the flimsiest evidence.
Some Republicans were adding their voices to growing calls for the President to concede, with experts warning his refusal was undermining the democratic process.
Mr Biden is reportedly close to naming senior staff by the end of the week.
His longtime adviser Ron Klain was being tipped for Chief of Staff, while avowed socialist Bernie Sanders was considered likely to be appointed labour secretary.