Former US Presidents - including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton - have spoken out about Joe Biden being projected* by news outlets to become the 46th president of the United States.
Congratulating Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris, former president Barack Obama - who endorsed Biden on his campaign trail - said in a statement posted to Instagram: "I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First Lady, Jill Biden.
The statement continues: "I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First Lady, Jill Biden.
"I also couldn’t be prouder to congratulate Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff for Kamala’s groundbreaking election as our next Vice President.
"In this election, under circumstances never experienced, Americans turned out in numbers never seen. And once every vote is counted, President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris will have won a historic and decisive victory."
Obama added: "We’re fortunate that Joe’s got what it takes to be President and already carries himself that way. Because when he walks into the White House in January, he’ll face a series of extraordinary challenges no incoming President ever has – a raging pandemic, an unequal economy and justice system, a democracy at risk, and a climate in peril.
"I know he’ll do the job with the best interests of every American at heart, whether or not he had their vote. So I encourage every American to give him a chance and lend him your support. The election results at every level show that the country remains deeply and bitterly divided. It will be up to not just Joe and Kamala, but each of us, to do our part – to reach out beyond our comfort zone, to listen to others, to lower the temperature and find some common ground from which to move forward, all of us remembering that we are one nation, under God.
"Finally, I want to thank everyone who worked, organized, and volunteered for the Biden campaign, every American who got involved in their own way, and everybody who voted for the first time. Your efforts made a difference. Enjoy this moment. Then stay engaged. I know it can be exhausting. But for this democracy to endure, it requires our active citizenship and sustained focus on the issues – not just in an election season, but all the days in between."
"Our democracy needs all of us more than ever. And Michelle and I look forward to supporting our next President and First Lady however we can.
Former president Bill Clinton, who served in the White House from 20 January 1993 – 20 January 2001, took to Twitter to congratulate both Biden and Harris, writing:
"America has spoken and democracy has won. Now we have a President-Elect and Vice President-Elect who will serve all of us and bring us all together. Congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on your momentous victory!"
And sharing a statement via The Carter Center on Twitter, former president Jimmy Carter, who served as the POTUS from 20 January 1977 – 20 January 1981, said:
"Rosalynn joins me in congratulating our friends President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
"We are proud of their well-run campaign and look forward to seeing the positive change they bring to our nation."
As of this writing, CNN projects that Joe Biden has received 279 electoral votes and a total of 74,575,812 public votes. Donald Trump has received 214 electoral votes with a total of 70,399,780 public votes.
Biden, 77, will now become the oldest president in the nation's history. The record was previously held by Donald Trump, who is currently 74.
In addition, Biden's running mate Kamala Harris is now projected to become the first Black, Asian, and female vice president in US history.
*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.