Biden vows to heal the wounds of division left by Trump

●Bush congratulates US election winner as president sticks to his guns

Joe Biden pledged to be a president “who seeks not to divide, but to unify” in his maiden address as President-elect of the United States while Donald Trump continued to protest against the election result.

Speaking in Wilmington, Delaware, Mr Biden said his election win was a victory for "the people".

"The people of this nation have spoken,” he said. "They've delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory, a victory for you the people.

"I'm humbled by the trust and confidence you've placed in me.

"I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify. Who doesn't see red and blue states, only sees the United States. And who will work with all my hear t to win the confidence of all of you, and for that, I believe, is what America is all about."

Mr Trump, meanwhile, continued to claim on Twitter that the election had been “stolen” and played a round of golf in Sterling, Virginia.

He wrote: “Since when do es the Lamestream Media call who our next president will be? We have all learned a lot in the last two weeks!”

Appearing to repeat he rh usband's disputed claims of election fraud, First Lady Melania Trump tweeted :" The American people deserve fair elections. Every legal-not illegal - vote should be counted. "We must protect our democracy with complete transparency."

However former US Republican president George Bush congratulated Mr Biden on securing the White House for the Democrats, and Kamala Harris on her historic election to the vice-presidency.

Mr Bush said: "Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opp or tunit y to lead and unify our country.

"The President-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat, he will govern for all Americans.

"I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can."

Mr Bush said Mr Trump held the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges as he congratulated him on his "hard-fought campaign". He said :" He earned the votes of more than 70 million Americans - an extraordinary political achievement. "They have spoken, and their voices will continue to be heard

through elected Republicans at every level of government.

"The fact that so many of our fellow citizens participated in this election is a positive sign of the health of our democracy and a reminder to the world of its strength.

"No matter how you voted, your vote counted.

"President Trump has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges, and any unresolved issues will be properly adjudicated.

"The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear."

At the victory rally in Wilmington earlier Ms Harris took to the stage first, commencing the proceedings by reflecting on civil rights leader John Lewis.

She said: "Congressman John Lewis, before his passing, wrote 'Democracy is not a state. It is an act'. And what he meant, was that America's democracy is not guaranteed.

"It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it. To guard it and never take it for granted."

She continued: "Protecting our democracy takes struggle. It takes sacrifice. But there is joy in it. And there is progress.

"Because we the people have the power to build a better future. And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election, the very soul of America at stake, the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America."

Ms Harris also said she was thinking of her mother and "the generations of women, black women, Asian, white, Latina, native American women who throughout our nation' s history have paved the way for this moment tonight".

She added: "While I may be the first woman in this office, I won't be the last."

Mr Biden clinched victor y after winning the key battle - ground of Pennsylvania on Saturday-some four days after polls closed-pushing him over the 270 electoral college votes threshold.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday congratulated Mr Bid en and Ms Harris and urged the two nations to work together on climate change, trade and inter nati on al security, adding that there was" far more that unit es" than divides the UK and the US.

"The United States is our close stand most important ally, and that has been the case president after pre sident, prime minister after prime minister-it won' t change ," he told broadcasters.

Former president Bar a ck Obama said he "could not be prouder" to congratulate Mr Biden and Ms Harris, while former Democratic pre sidential nominee Hillary Clinton hailed the pair as" a history- making ticket, are pudiation of Trump, and a new page for America".

In his speech, Mr Bid en made a point to reach out to those who voted for President Donald Trump as he called for an end to the "harsh rhetoric" that plagued the election campaign.

He said: "For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight. I've lost a couple of times myself.

"But now let's give each other a chance. It's time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again."

With corona virus still surging throughout the country, Mr Biden said one of his priorities would be to tackle the pandemic.

He said: "We cannot repair the economy, restore our vitality, or relish life's most precious moments-hugging a grandchild, birthdays, weddings, graduations, all the moments that matter most to us - until we get it under control."

He closed his speech by calling on the nation to come together to "restore the soul of America".

He said: "Tonight the whole world is watching America and I believe 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."

Making reference to his son Be au, who died of brain cancer in 2015, Mr Bid en, a devout Catholic said: “In the last days of the campaign, I've been thinking about a hymn that means a lot to me and to my family, particularly my deceased son Be au. It captures the faith that sustains me and which I believe sustains America.

“And I hop e it can provide some comfort and so lace to the more than 230,000 families who have lost a loved one to this terrible virus this year. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you. Hopefully this hymn gives you so lace as well.

‘And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

Bear you on the breath of dawn,

Make you to shine like the sun,

And hold you in the palm of His Hand.’

"And now, together-on eagle's wings - we embark on the work that God and histo - ry have called upon us to do.

“With full hearts and steady hands, with faith in America and in each other, with a love of country-and athirst for justice-let us be the nation that we know we can be.

“A nation united. A nation strengthened. A nation healed.”

Meanwhile, a White House official said Mr Trump will "accept the result sofa free and fair election".

They added the Trump administration is following all statutory requirements that govern government transitions.