Biden addresses nation for 1st time as president-elect: 'This is the time to heal in America'


Joe Biden addressed the United States as president-elect for the first time Saturday evening in Wilmington, Delaware, hours after he was projected to win the presidential election.
Throughout the speech he thanked his wife, Jill, and the rest of his family, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and all his volunteers, while also singling out the support he received at the polls throughout the Democratic primary and general election from Black Americans. He then emphasized that he and Harris would immediately get to work on building a plan to control the coronavirus pandemic so they could hit the ground running in January.
A good portion of the speech was dedicated to finding some sort of middle ground in what many consider a deeply divided nation. Biden spoke directly to Americans who voted for President Trump (though he steered away from direct references to Trump himself) at one point, telling them: "Let's give each other a chance." He made it clear he intends to work with people across the aisle during his time in the Oval Office. "This is the time to heal in America," he said. Tim O'Donnell
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Panspermia: the theory that life was sent to Earth by aliens
Under The Radar New findings have resurfaced an old, controversial idea
-
What's a bridge loan and how could it make buying your next home possible?
The Explainer This type of loan has both pros and cons
-
The Week contest: Phone risk
Puzzles and Quizzes
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants