The exercise will inevitably be painful: Joe Biden will address the Americans this Thursday to prepare for the transition until January 20 with his worst political enemy, President-elect Donald Trump who decisively defeated Kamala Harris.
In a configuration that he had perhaps not imagined, the 81-year-old outgoing president, who had given up his place in July to his vice-president to represent the Democrats, must speak solemnly at 11:00 a.m. (5:00 p.m. in Switzerland ) from the White House Rose Garden.
He must “talk about the results of the election and the transition” with the next Republican administration, according to the presidency.
Since his victory, Donald Trump, 45th and soon 47th President of the United States, has been congratulated by Joe Biden who defeated him in November 2020, by Barack Obama (2009-2017) whom he succeeded and by Kamala Harris, who admitted his defeat on Wednesday.
Joe Biden invited the Republican to the White House on an unspecified date.
The two men are known to hate each other and were on television on June 27 during their only debate, disastrous for the Democrat, which precipitated the withdrawal of his race for a second term.
Trump “impatient”
Donald Trump, who never admitted his defeat in 2020, “is looking forward to this meeting, which should take place soon, and greatly appreciated the call,” his team said.
Badly beaten, Kamala Harris pledged to “help” with the transfer of power and called on her supporters, in tears, in Washington to “accept the results of this historic election”.
The New York real estate magnate – target during the campaign of two assassination attempts, charged and sentenced in criminal and civil cases – insisted to his ex-rival on the telephone on the need to “unify the country” , fractured into two camps, it seems, irreconcilable.
Donald Trump, who will be sworn in on January 20, and who has spent the last three months of the campaign insulting Kamala Harris, found in her on Wednesday “strength, professionalism and tenacity”, according to his team.
The vice-president “has been an incredible partner”, greeted President Biden, praising in a press release the “integrity, courage and temperament” of this former prosecutor and senator from California, born 60 years ago. years of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father who had emigrated to the United States.
Possible opening in Ukraine
Donald Trump’s clear victory caused shock waves in the world’s leading power and throughout the world.
Millions of Americans expressed their joy. Millions more are worried.
While he left in chaos in January 2021, the 78-year-old tribune achieved an incredible comeback by convincing a majority that he understood the socio-economic and security concerns of everyday life.
The elected president was congratulated by a number of foreign dignitaries who sometimes did not even wait for his victory to be made official.
He notably met with French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Very critical of the tens of billions of dollars in arms that the United States has released for Ukraine, Donald Trump has pledged to resolve this conflict “in 24 hours” with Russia, but without saying how.
The war in the Middle East will also be resolved quickly, assured the businessman, very close to Israel.
On the economy, Donald Trump promised to “steal jobs from other countries” through tax cuts and customs duties.
On Thursday, Beijing warned that there would be “no winners in a trade war” with Washington.
Leave the Paris Agreement
The American Central Bank, the Fed, should, for its part, announce on Thursday a further reduction in its rates, a movement initiated in September thanks to the fall in inflation, and which should continue the day after the election of the republican.
A notorious climate skeptic, Mr. Trump has pledged to once again leave the Paris Agreement. And he promised the “largest operation” ever seen to expel millions of illegal immigrants from the border with Mexico.
Donald Trump, whom Democrats and critics fear will govern as a “tyrant”, remains vague on the right to abortion which the Supreme Court has undermined in 2022.
He will be able to rely on the Senate, which the Republicans took back from the Democrats. His party is also on track to maintain a majority in the House of Representatives.
This would almost give him full powers.
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp