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Speaking for the first time since Harris’ loss, President Joe Biden urged Democrats to “keep the faith” and vowed to ensure a peaceful transfer of power.
“Something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, is see each other not as adversaries but as fellow Americans, bring down the temperature,” Biden said in an address to the nation on Thursday (Friday AEDT).
President Joe Biden spoke at the White House following Donald Trump’s election victory.Credit: AP
“I also hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system,” Biden said. “It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent.”
The appointment of Wiles – a 67-year-old grandmother and former senior adviser to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis – will be a defining test of Trump’s incoming administration, as he now has less than 75 days to build out his team before Inauguration Day on January 20.
The under-the-radar Wiles is affectionately referred to by Trump as “Ice Baby” or “Ice Maiden” and is known within his orbit as someone who is loyal and understands how he operates.
Part of the transition involves filling thousands of government positions and cabinet roles. Some of the names touted include Elon Musk as a potential government efficiency adviser; vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr in a health advisory role; New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik (UN ambassador) and Senator Marco Rubio (secretary of state).
Susie Wiles watches as Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania earlier this week.Credit: AP
Speaking on Fox News, Trump’s son, Don jnr, said he would be “heavily involved” in the presidential transition, and “now that we know who the real players are, the people who will actually deliver on the president’s message”.
While votes are still being counted, Trump has so far won five out of the seven key battleground states, helped Republicans win control of the Senate and may also win the popular vote.
The massive victory has sparked a wave of finger-pointing within the Democrats, which progressive senator Bernie Sanders said had “abandoned working-class people”.
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“First, it was the white working class, and now it is Latino and black workers as well,” Sanders said in a statement. “While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”
Others blame Biden for not standing aside sooner, which they claim would have given Harris time to make a winning case.
However, Philadelphia Democratic chair and former congressman Bob Brady disagreed, telling his local TV network: “I think we would have been better with Joe Biden.