Election 2024 live updates: Biden vows to ensure a peaceful transition to Trump in address to nation

Vice President-elect JD Vance has spoken with Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Rayner said it was good to speak with him and that they could build on the special relationship between the two countries.

NBC News reports that Donald Trump’s unassuming co-campaign chief Susan Wiles is seen as the frontrunner to become his White House chief of staff. The network cites six sources familiar with the discussions inside the campaign.

If chosen, Wiles would become the first female White House chief of staff in history.

Per NBC:

“She has commanded a ton of respect amongst the staff, as well as loyalty. She doesn’t play games. And she means what she says: On the campaign, she said we are checking egos at the door and held everyone to it,” said one campaign official, who, like others in this piece, was granted anonymity to speak candidly or because they were not authorized to speak on the record. “The team of rivals concept did not apply here.”

"Susie is as good as they get," a second Trump campaign official said. "She ran a great campaign and has the respect of all — including Democrats who recognize her talent. She'd make for a great chief of staff and would serve at the president's pleasure. After all, it is his White House."

A third Trump campaign official said Wiles is already playing the de-facto chief of staff role and that staffers widely want her to get the job. A large staff meeting is taking place at the campaign headquarters on Thursday, and Wiles will lead it.

Four years after Donald Trump refused to acknowledge losing the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden said his administration would honor Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris by facilitating a “peaceful and orderly transition” to the incoming Republican administration.

In remarks delivered from the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday to an audience that included a large portion of Biden’s cabinet, plus his granddaughter, Finnegan Biden, the president called the American electoral system “the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world.”

“The people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully. And we’re in a democracy — the will of the people always prevails,” he said.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

For years, Donald Trump has threatened to go after countless political rivals who he claims have wronged him.

In speeches to supporters and rants on his Truth Social platform, he has on multiple occasions vowed to seek “retribution” and called his political opponents the “enemies from within.”

During an interview with Dr Phil in June, he issued an especially ominous threat. “Well, revenge does take time. I will say that. And sometimes revenge can be justified,” he said.

Rhian Lubin reports.

Four years after Donald Trump refused to acknowledge losing the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden said his administration would honor Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris by facilitating a “peaceful and orderly transition” to the incoming Republican administration.

In remarks delivered from the White House Rose Garden to an audience that included a large portion of Biden’s cabinet and his granddaughter, Finnegan Biden, the president called the American electoral system “the greatest experiment in self-government in thehistory of the world.”

“The people vote and choose their own leaders, and hey do it peacefully. And we’re in a democracy — the will of the people always prevails,” he said.

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Biden ended his short speech in the Rose Garden, urging supporters to “Remember, defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up.”

He added: “That's the story of America for over 240 years, and counting. It’s the story for all of us, not just some of us. The American experiment endures. We're going to be okay, but we need to stay engaged. We need to keep going. And above all, we need to keep the faith.”

Biden said he spoke to Harris yesterday, calling her “a partner and a public servant.”

“She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much. Her character, she has a backbone like a ramrod,” he added.

President Joe Biden began his speech from the Rose Garden on Thursday by saying, “For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world. That's not hyperbole. That's a fact.”

“The people vote and choose their own leaders, and they do it peacefully. And we're in a democracy. The will of the people always prevails,” he added. “Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him, I direct my entire administration work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition.”