Time to end grim era of demonisation: Biden
In first speech, he also pledges to be the President for all Americans
WASHINGTON: Pledging to be the President of all Americans, Joe Biden has sought an immediate end to the “grim era of demonisation” in the deeply-polarised nation, as he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris celebrated their historic triumph over Donald Trump in a bitter and closely-fought presidential election.
“I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify; who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States,” Biden, 77, said in his victory speech before a drive-in audience in his hometown, Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday night, nearly ending the uncertainty over the outcome of Tuesday’s election. Biden, who has succeeded in his third bid to the White House, thanked his supporters, saying he had earned votes from the “broadest and most diverse coalition in American history.” “I am humbled by the trust and confidence you’ve placed in me,” who will be the oldest US president when he would be sworn-in on January 20, 2021, said amid applause and cheers from the audience. “The people of this nation have spoken, they’ve delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory, a victory for ‘We the People’,” he said, referring to more than 74 million voters who backed him. Biden ran twice unsuccessfully for president - in 1988 and 2008.
Noting that he ran as a proud Democrat, Biden said that he will now be an American president. “I will work as hard for those who didn’t vote for me - as those who did. Biden criticised Trump without naming him in his nearly 15-minute address, saying that he wanted to end “this grim era of demonisation in America here and now.” “Let this grim era of demonisation in America begin to end - here and now. The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another is not due to some mysterious force beyond our control,” he said.
He also reached out to Trump voters, saying he would act as their president as much as he would for those who voted for him. “I understand your disappointment tonight. I’ve lost a couple times myself. But now, let’s give each other a chance,” Biden said, adding that, “This is the time to heal in America.”
WASHINGTON: During his first year of presidency, Joe Biden plans to bring together the democracies of the world by hosting a global Summit for Democracy to “renew the spirit and shared purpose” of the nations of the Free World, according to a policy paper issued by his campaign during the US presidential election. India, being the world’s largest democracy, is likely to play an important role in such a summit. “During his first year in office, Biden will bring together the world’s democracies to strengthen our institutions, honestly confront the challenge of nations that are backsliding, and forge a common agenda to address threats,” according to the policy document issued by his campaign.