The American media projected the winner of the 2020 election, as it does every four years.
While the state-by-state results have not yet been certified and a number of vote counts continue, the ultimate outcome of the election will not be confirmed until the Electoral Collage meets on December 14.
As per the BBC, Biden was asked by a journalist on Tuesday what he thought of Trump's refusal to concede in the 2020 election.
"I just think it's an embarrassment, quite frankly," Biden said in Wilmington, Delaware.
"The only thing that, how can I say this tactfully, I think it will not help the president's legacy."
"At the end of the day, you know, it's all going to come to fruition on January 20," he added, referring to inauguration day.
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As he prepares to assume office, the projected presidential winner has been taking calls with foreign leaders.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were among those he spoke to on Tuesday, according to the BBC.
Biden said of the calls: "I'm letting them know that America is back. We're going to be back in the game."
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However, while Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris might be preparing to take over from the Trump administration, a little-known agency led by a Trump appointee is slowing down the handover.
Funding and access to federal departments for incoming administrations is handled by the General Services Administration, but it is currently refusing to accept Biden as the projected president-elect.
"We don't see anything slowing us down, quite frankly," Biden said.
On Saturday (November 7), news outlets across the world officially projected* Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election.
And despite millions of people across the US - including many former presidents - acknowledging Biden as the winner of the race to the White House, Donald Trump has continued to reject Biden's projected victory.
The incumbent president has been very vocal on Twitter denouncing the many projections that Biden has defeated him, and has even tweeted: "I WON THE ELECTION".
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Trump has repeatedly stated - with no evidence - that voter fraud has assisted Biden's lead and that "bad things happened" in the counting rooms and that observers were not allowed to watch.
In another recent tweet, Trump declared: "Nobody wants to report that Pennsylvania and Michigan didn’t allow our Poll Watchers and/or Vote Observers to Watch or Observe. This is responsible for hundreds of thousands of votes that should not be allowed to count. Therefore, I easily win both states. Report the News!"
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Many of Trump's tweets are now being flagged by Twitter and are attached with the warning: "This claim about election fraud is debated."
Now, as a press conference held in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday, Biden provided his thoughts on Trump's refusal to concede.
One reporter asked the projected President-Elect: "Sir, what do you say to the Americans that are anxious over the fact that President Trump has yet to concede and what that might mean for the country?"
To which Biden responded: "I just think it’s an embarrassment, quite frankly.
"The only thing that - how can I say this tactfully - I think it will not help the President's legacy."
Biden added: "I think at the end of the day, it is all going to come to fruition on January 20th, and between now and then, I hope an expectation is that the American people do know and do understand that there has been a transition."
Speaking about those who voted for Trump, Biden said: "I understand the sense of loss, I get that.
"But I think that the majority of the people who voted for the president - a lot voted for him... a significantly small number, but a lot voted for him - I think they understand that we have to come together."
Per CNBC, Biden also told reporters at the conference that the Trump Administration's refusal to authorize the start of the official transition process "does not in any way change the dynamic of what we’re able to do."
"We have already started the transition; we are well underway," Biden said.
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As of this writing, CNN reports that Biden has 279 electoral college votes and has received a recorded-breaking 77,558,792 public votes. Donald Trump trails on 72,349,982 votes.
*Biden has been declared the projected winner of the election by NBC, CNN, BBC News, and many others.
It is important to note that it is common for media agencies to reveal their election projections based on voting analysis and counted ballots.
Click HERE to read why the Associated Press called Biden for Pennsylvania, and therefore, the election.
President-elect Joe Biden has excoriated Donald Trump over his refusal to concede in a scathing attack that came hours after the Electoral College officially sealed Biden's victory.
Per NBC News, Biden said the election, which Trump and his supporters have attempted to overturn with numerous failed legal challenges, was "honest, free and fair."
Watch as Trump teases a run in 2024 at the White House Christmas party:
Calling attacks on the election and election officials "simply unconscionable," Biden described Trump's attempts to overturn the result of the presidential election an "abuse of power."
"In America, politicians don't take power — the people grant it to them," Biden said. "The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago. And we now know that nothing, not even a pandemic — or an abuse of power — can extinguish that flame."
"In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed," He continued.
"We the people voted. Faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact. And so, now it is time to turn the page. To unite. To heal."
The Democrat once again vowed to be a president "for all Americans", telling America that his priorities were "delivering immediate economic help" and getting the pandemic under control.
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"I will work just as hard for those of you who didn't vote for me as I will for those who did. There is urgent work in front of all of us," Biden said.
"Getting the pandemic under control to getting the nation vaccinated against this virus. Delivering immediate economic help so badly needed by so many Americans who are hurting today — and then building our economy back better than ever."
This comes days after Trump was labelled "Loser of the Year" by respected German news magazine Der Spiegel.
According to Huffington Post, a portion of the article states that Trump was, "never concerned with the common good, but always with one thing — himself.”
“Nothing is normal under Trump,” the article continues. "He refuses to admit defeat. Instead, he speaks of massive electoral fraud, although there is no evidence for it. The whole thing is not surprising. Trump’s presidency ends as it began: Without decency and without dignity."
Donald Trump has appeared to admit for the first time that president-elect Joe Biden "won" the US presidential election.
Trump made the claims, albeit tempered somewhat amid yet more unfounded claims that the vote was unfairly and deliberately weighted against him, on Twitter.
Related: People think Hilary Clinton predicted Trump's reaction to the 2020 election:
"He won because the Election was Rigged. NO VOTE WATCHERS OR OBSERVERS allowed, vote tabulated by a Radical Left privately owned company, Dominion, with a bad reputation & bum equipment that couldn’t even qualify for Texas (which I won by a lot!), the Fake & Silent Media, & more!"
Sky News called the tweet a "significant acknowledgement" from Trump, who has thus far failed to concede the election to president-elect Biden despite trailing in the popular vote by five million.
Last week, the president appeared to acknowledge for the first time the possibility that he may no longer be in the White House next year.
President Donald Trump said "time will tell" who will be in the White House in January following president-elect Joe Biden's projected election win on November 7, per Sky News.
According to the news outlet, as part of the address at the White House Rose Garden, Trump spoke about Operation Warp Speed, which is the American government's pandemic vaccine program. He also stated his administration will "ideally" not go into lockdown.
Mr. Trump said per ITV News: "Ideally we won't go to a lockdown, I will not go, this administration will not be going to a lockdown, hopefully."
He added: "Whatever happens in the future who knows… which administration will be... I guess time will tell but I can tell you this administration won't go into lockdown."
Meanwhile, it has been reported that "at least" 20 people have been arrested following pro-Trump demonstrations in Washington DC yesterday.
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The Associated Press reports that after nightfall, the largely peaceful demonstrations became violent, with videos on social media showing fistfights and projectiles as Trump supporters clashed with counter protesters. AP says that there have been at least 20 arrests and at least one stabbing.
On Friday, Trump noted that the rally was due to take place in Washington Saturday and tweeted that he might even make an appearance.
"Heartwarming to see all of the tremendous support out there, especially the organic Rallies that are springing up all over the Country, including a big one on Saturday in D.C. I may even try to stop by and say hello." He wrote.
As news agencies across the US announce Joe Biden as the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump's campaign has announced that "the election is far from over".
Per BBC News, Donald Trump has released a statement in response to Joe Biden being projected at the 46th president of the United States.
"We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed.
"The simple fact is this election is far from over.
"Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor.
"In Pennsylvania, for example, our legal observers were not permitted meaningful access to watch the counting process. Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media."
It is important to note that it is common for media agencies to reveal their election projections based on voting analysis and counted ballots. (Click HERE to read why the Associated Press called Biden for Pennsylvania, and therefore, the election.)
“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.
"The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election.
"It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters. Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access.
“So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands."
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Per BBC News, the Biden campaign has also released the following statement on behalf of Joe Biden, moments after he was announced as the projected winner of the election:
"I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice-President-elect Harris.
"In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.
"With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.
"It’s time for America to unite. And to heal.
"We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together."
The former Vice President surpassed the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the election after being declared victorious in Pennsylvania.
The Associated Press has declared that Democrat Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday [November 7].
The AP adds that Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania.
NBC and CNN have also declared Biden as the projected winner of the election.
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As of this writing, Biden has earned 273 electoral votes, whereas Trump remains on 214. It is important to note that votes are still being counted.
The 2020 election saw both the Democratic and Republican candidates receive a record number of votes.
Per the Washington Post, reported that Biden had received a record 74,478,345 votes, breaking the record set by Barack Obama for most ever votes for a US presidential candidate.
Trump also received a record-breaking 70,329,970, marking a considerable increase from the votes he received in 2016.
Per BBC News, The Trump campaign has suggested that their candidate is not planning to concede the election. The result defies tradition, making Donald Trump the first one-term president since the 1990s.
Biden, 77, will be the oldest president in American history. The record was previously held by Donald Trump, who is 74.
When Biden is officially sworn is as the POTUS, this will also make running mate Kamala Harris the very first woman to hold the Vice President position.
What is the Electoral College System?
The 2020 US election results will be determined by the electoral college system – not the American voter.
Many incorrectly believe that the national vote dictates who becomes president and vice-president. But the truth is, although the public directly elects governors, mayors and members of Congress, it's the electoral college that decides who goes into the White House.
The electoral college is a group of 538 people that meet every four years shortly after Election Day to choose the winner of the US presidency. It's made up of representatives from each state, who are appointed by their corresponding political parties.
The number of members each state is allowed is determined by its population. California has the most with a staggering 55 electors while smaller states like Alaska have just three – which is the minimum.
Each member of the electoral college represents one vote. Typically, each elector casts their vote based on whoever won the public vote in their state – however, this isn't always the case.
To win the 2020 US election, Donald Trump or Joe Biden will need to win the majority of these votes – which is 270 is more.
Under the current system, if Biden were to win 91% of the vote in California, he would secure all of the state's 55 electoral votes. If he won just 51% of the vote, he would still walk away with all 55 electoral votes.
This is why it's possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote but still win the US presidential election.
Back in 2013, Hilary Clinton received 3 million more votes more than Trump but lost the race. That's because he received 57% of the electoral college votes.
Trump has made repeated unverified claims of voter fraud on the part of the Democrat party, baselessly alleging that Republican votes in several states were either lost, unaccounted for, or intentionally destroyed.
After a mob of pro-Trump protestors stormed the Capitol building and interrupted Congress on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 6, the incumbent President has now publicly acknowledged that he will leave office on January 20.
Per CNN, in an official statement regarding the certification of Biden's victory after Congress had resumed, Trump said:
"Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.
"I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again."
Per The New York Times, Trump addressed his supporters in a video statement which he shared with his 88 million Twitter followers.
Although Trump told his rioting supporters to "go home," the incumbent still insisted that the election had been "stolen", ending with the words: "I love you." As a result, Facebook removed that video, and Trump has been temporarily blocked from Facebook and Twitter.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden took to his own Twitter account to address the chaos and condemn Trump for appearing to incite a coup.
Biden wrote: "Today is a reminder, a painful one, that democracy is fragile. To preserve it requires people of good will, leaders with the courage to stand up, who are devoted not to pursuit of power and personal interest at any cost, but to the common good."
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