Biden solidifies U.S. election win, Trump says 'time will tell' if he stays in power

By Simon Lewis and Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden arrives to speak about modernizing infrastructure and his plans for tackling climate change during a campaign event in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., July 14, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

 

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden solidified his election victory on Friday by winning the state of Georgia, and President Donald Trump said "time will tell" if another administration takes over soon, the closest he has come to acknowledging Biden could succeed him.

 

Edison Research, which made the Georgia call, also projected that North Carolina, the only other battleground state with an outstanding vote count, would go to Trump, finalizing the electoral vote tally at 306 for Biden to 232 for Trump.

 

The numbers gave Biden, a Democrat, a resounding defeat of Trump in the Electoral College, equal to the 306 votes that Trump, a Republican, won to defeat Hillary Clinton in a 2016 victory Trump called a "landslide."

 

At a White House event where he predicted a coronavirus vaccine would be available for the whole population by April, Trump edged closer to acknowledging he might leave the White House in January but stopped short.

 

"This administration will not be going to a lockdown. Hopefully the, uh, whatever happens in the future - who knows which administration it will be? I guess time will tell," Trump said in his first public remarks since Biden was projected as the election's winner on Nov. 7.

 

Trump did not take questions after the event.

 

Trump, a Republican, has claimed without evidence that he was cheated by widespread election fraud and has refused to concede. State election officials report no serious irregularities, and several of his legal challenges have failed in court.

 

While Trump had yet to concede, Biden officials reiterated they were moving ahead with transition efforts regardless.

 

Although the national popular vote does not determine the election outcome, Biden was ahead by more than 5.3 million votes, or 3.4 percentage points. His share of the popular vote, at 50.8%, was slightly higher than Ronald Reagan's share of the vote in 1980 when he defeated Jimmy Carter.

 

To win a second term, Trump would need to overturn Biden's lead in at least three states, but he has so far failed to produce evidence that he could do so in any of them. States face a Dec. 8 "safe harbor" deadline to certify their elections and choose electors for the Electoral College, which will officially select the new president on Dec. 14.

 

Biden's legal team in Georgia said on Friday they do not expect a hand recount of votes in the state to change the results there. Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told Fox News the campaign has "great confidence" it can prevail in the Georgia recount.

 

A Michigan state court rejected on Friday a request by Trump's supporters to block the certification of votes in Detroit, which went heavily in favor of Biden. [L1N2HZ23E] And lawyers for Trump's campaign dropped a lawsuit in Arizona after the final vote count rendered it moot.

 

Federal election security officials have found no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, "or was in any way compromised," two security groups said in a statement released on Thursday by the lead U.S. cybersecurity agency.

 

TRANSITION TALK

 

Biden officials said on Friday they would press forward with the transition, identifying legislative priorities, reviewing federal agency policies and preparing to fill thousands of jobs in the new administration.

 

"We're charging ahead with the transition," Jen Psaki, a senior adviser to Biden's transition team, said on a conference call while stressing that Biden still needs "real-time information" from the Trump administration to deal with the resurgent pandemic and national security threats.

 

Psaki urged Trump's White House to allow Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to receive daily intelligence briefings on potential threats around the world.

 

"With every day that passes on, it becomes more concerning that our national security team and the president-elect and the vice president-elect don't have access to those threat assessments, intelligence briefings, real-time information about our engagements around the world," Psaki said. "Because, you know, you don't know what you don't know."

 

Biden will be briefed by his own group of national-security experts next week, she said. He met with transition advisers again on Friday at his Delaware beach house where he is mapping out his approach to the pandemic and prepares to name his top appointees, including Cabinet members.

 

Trump's refusal to accept defeat has stalled the official transition. The federal agency that releases funding to an incoming president-elect, the General Services Administration, has yet to recognize Biden's victory, denying him access to federal office space and resources.

 

Trump has discussed with advisers media ventures and appearances to keep him in the spotlight ahead of a possible 2024 White House bid. In the near term, he is expected to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate candidates in Georgia ahead of Jan.

5 runoff elections that will determine which party controls the chamber, aides said.

 

He also is considering starting a new television channel or social media company to compete with those he felt betrayed him and stifled his ability to communicate directly with Americans, according to several advisers.

 

Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera, a Trump confidant, said he had spoken to the president by phone on Friday and Trump gave him the impression he would follow the U.S. Constitution and surrender his office after every vote was counted.

 

"He told me he's a realist. He told me he would do the right thing," Rivera said in an interview with Fox. "I got no impression that he was plotting the overthrow of the elected government. He just wants a fair fight."

 

(Reporting by Simon Lewis in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and Steve Holland in Washington; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey and Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by James Oliphant and John Whitesides; Editing by Alistair Bell, Howard Goller and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-14

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

double post

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by Odysseus123

Just now, Odysseus123 said:

Goodness me...a total dog's breakfast for the past four years..No wonder George Washington acquired and required a set of wooden dentures.

 

4 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Goodness me...a total dog's breakfast for four years..

It sure was.

Some trump sycophants are going off the deep end - likely to generate even wider chasms of partisan differences, especially with trump's evangelical supporters. e.g. from the Washington Post - no link due to paywall, but you can use Google search.

 

 

Trump retweeted a video of actor Jon Voight saying, “This is now our greatest fight since the Civil War, the battle of righteousness versus Satan. Yes, Satan, because these leftists are evil, corrupt and they want to tear down this nation. . . . Let us fight this fight as if it is our last fight on Earth.”

Biden solidifies U.S. election win, Trump says 'time will tell' if he stays in power

 

 

No, time will not tell, the voters will tell and they've already spoken; Get the hell out!

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

 

 

He also is considering starting a new television channel or social media company to compete with those he felt betrayed him and stifled his ability to communicate directly with Americans, according to several advisers

 

To be called Mad-Dog News ..

This was being mooted by a number of commentators last week after Fox called a state for J B enraging Trump .. If it materialises it will be spouting the sort of nonsense the man himself has/does with a minimal connection to reality and as such its material should be scrutinised for any truth and accuracy ..

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by Justgrazing
Sp

Why would he want the job after the American people made it very clear that they want him out?

16 minutes ago, bangsaenguy said:

Why would he want the job after the American people made it very clear that they want him out?

 

when has he shown even the most basic interest in the needs of the american people.

 

This is about ego and personal branding.  It is not and has never been about america.

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Some trump sycophants are going off the deep end - likely to generate even wider chasms of partisan differences, especially with trump's evangelical supporters. e.g. from the Washington Post - no link due to paywall, but you can use Google search.

 

 

Trump retweeted a video of actor Jon Voight saying, “This is now our greatest fight since the Civil War, the battle of righteousness versus Satan. Yes, Satan, because these leftists are evil, corrupt and they want to tear down this nation. . . . Let us fight this fight as if it is our last fight on Earth.”

John Voight who listens to that Hot Mess Traitor Hollywood has been and father of a knucklehead 

12 minutes ago, Ireland32 said:

John Voight who listens to that Hot Mess Traitor Hollywood has been and father of a knucklehead 

The reality is the individual representing the Office of the President of the USA retweeting unhinged conspiracy theories, as he has done a number of time before, yet 70+ million US citizens vote for the <deleted>; it's <deleted> unbelievable!

2 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

 

To be called Mad-Dog News ..

This was being mooted by a number of commentators last week after Fox called a state for J B enraging Trump .. If it materialises it will be spouting the sort of nonsense the man himself has/does with a minimal connection to reality and as such its material should be scrutinised for any truth and accuracy ..

 

... sounds like the perfect name to me, lol ...

Also the title of his autobiography - apparently worth 100 million - has been leaked: 'How Big A Hand To Grab A Ballot?'

 

Should be soon on all the networks, dunno if Rudy already booked 4seasons total landscaping, again, 555 ...

 

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by jollyhangmon

6 minutes ago, simple1 said:

The reality is the individual representing the Office of the President of the USA retweeting unhinged conspiracy theories, as he has done a number of time before, yet 70+ million US citizens vote for the <deleted>; it's <deleted> unbelievable!

 

yes, no doubt, the man has enjoyed quite massive support during this election, not assive enough though  hence  biden

2 hours ago, Phoenix Rising said:

 

 

No, time will not tell, the voters will tell and they've already spoken; Get the hell out!

 

   You tell him , Phoenix .

You should go to the Whitehouse and get Trump in a headlock and kick his ass outta there 

I am just wondering how the 50 centers are holding up?After all they must realize that the slush funds are disappearing and Mad Dog News can't pay for 'em all at this point in time.

 

Now, that ancient actor fella's video was a real cracker...he has probably been abducted and probed by Tralfamadoreans in the past...tho' it may have been as recent as the middle of last week.

1 hour ago, n00dle said:

 

when has he shown even the most basic interest in the needs of the american people.

 

This is about ego and personal branding.  It is not and has never been about america.

Yes.

Mr. Trump's entertainment show keeps going. 

 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/trump-post-election-fan-service/2020/11/13/a70615f6-2511-11eb-8672-c281c7a2c96e_story.html

 

Trump’s bizarre post-election behavior isn’t a tantrum or a coup. It’s fan service.

Edited November 14, 20205 yr by Jingthing

 

56 minutes ago, n00dle said:

 

when has he shown even the most basic interest in the needs of the american people.

 

This is about ego and personal branding.  It is not and has never been about america.

 

I think history will decide if TRUMP was a good president.  But comparing him to OBAMA I would say that he was definitely better for the country.

 

Records were set in employment many businesses that Obama said would never return did.

People of all taxable levels got a tax break and more money

Nato countries are now or were trying to pay their way more

North Korea has been silent

ISIS was minimilized

China was put in it's place as a country ripping off people

He got rid of NAFTA and got a better deal for all 3 countries

and most importantly  he started the process of getting people out of jail that did not deserve it and getting them back into society,

 

He also received the highest percentage of black and Latino votes of any GOP before him.

 

He got the American troops out of as many places as he could

 

When the Biden plans of high taxes, high wages and high cost of functioning as well as high debt along with his6-8week country wide shut down including sports and all business hits it will be interesting to see.

 

Remember this was not a vote against TRUMPS record or infavour of Biden this was the people that supposedly hated trump .

 

The other thing that history I am sure wil ltell us is if this was a rigged election or not.

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Trump’s bizarre post-election behavior isn’t a tantrum or a coup. It’s fan service.

Yes..best to see his entire career as that of an "influencer" which reached stunning new heights in 2016 but is now imploding due to the product use by date.

 

It's all internet and social media..

18 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

 

   You tell him , Phoenix .

You should go to the Whitehouse and get Trump in a headlock and kick his ass outta there 

I wish that about 10 seconds after Biden takes his hand off the bible at his inauguration, one of the Secret Service Agents that Super Spreader 45 infected would go up and clock him in that Big Orange face and knock that combover right off his head....or Phoenix can do it, that would work for me just as well.

4 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

 

 

I think history will decide if TRUMP was a good president.  But comparing him to OBAMA I would say that he was definitely better for the country.

 

Records were set in employment many businesses that Obama said would never return did.

People of all taxable levels got a tax break and more money

Nato countries are now or were trying to pay their way more

North Korea has been silent

ISIS was minimilized

China was put in it's place as a country ripping off people

He got rid of NAFTA and got a better deal for all 3 countries

and most importantly  he started the process of getting people out of jail that did not deserve it and getting them back into society,

 

He also received the highest percentage of black and Latino votes of any GOP before him.

 

He got the American troops out of as many places as he could

 

When the Biden plans of high taxes, high wages and high cost of functioning as well as high debt along with his6-8week country wide shut down including sports and all business hits it will be interesting to see.

 

Remember this was not a vote against TRUMPS record or infavour of Biden this was the people that supposedly hated trump .

 

The other thing that history I am sure wil ltell us is if this was a rigged election or not.

 

 

 

Funny in a sad sort of way that someone believes that.

Just now, Tie Dye Samurai said:

I wish that about 10 seconds after Biden takes his hand off the bible at his inauguration, one of the Secret Service Agents that Super Spreader 45 infected would go up and clock him in that Big Orange face and knock that combover right off his head....or Phoenix can do it, that would work for me just as well.

Notice the boufant changed color. Was dogs <deleted> yellow, now white.

1 minute ago, Sujo said:

Funny in a sad sort of way that someone believes that.

OKAY

 

Why shouldI not believe that.  telling me it is sad does not tell me why

 

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Notice the boufant changed color. Was dogs <deleted> yellow, now white.

again people dealing in personalities not in what he did or did not do.

My question to everyone that is here mocking trump.  Do you really think that Biden is going to do any better and if so how

 

Just now, kingstonkid said:

My question to everyone that is here mocking trump.  Do you really think that Biden is going to do any better and if so how

 

Simply by not being trump is better.

 

Notice how divided the country is? Notice how many dying of covid and infections going thru the roof while he plays golf.

 

Notice biden listening to the science.

 

Oh, and trump has no policies, can you post them here for us?

 

Bush jnr was terrible but trump has so easily gone lower.

6 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

OKAY

 

Why shouldI not believe that.  telling me it is sad does not tell me why

 

If you need to be told then you maybe should have a good look at yourself why you believe what you wrote.

6 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

My question to everyone that is here mocking trump.  Do you really think that Biden is going to do any better and if so how

 

Yeah, first and foremost he wont be an embarrassing self absorbed dishonest divisive tool that intentionally pits half the country against each other for his own personal and political gain that blames his failures on others and takes no responsibility or leadership. I should not even call him a tool, I am doing disservice to tools everywhere. 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

who knows which administration it will be?

Me.  

 

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

I guess time will tell," Trump said

Nope, it’s already happened. 
 

You lost by a margin you called a ‘landslide’ back in 2016. 
 

Pack your bags. 
 

The people have spoken. 

41 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

 

   You tell him , Phoenix .

You should go to the Whitehouse and get Trump in a headlock and kick his ass outta there 

There are few things I would have enjoyed more.

3 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

 

To be called Mad-Dog News ..

This was being mooted by a number of commentators last week after Fox called a state for J B enraging Trump .. If it materialises it will be spouting the sort of nonsense the man himself has/does with a minimal connection to reality and as such its material should be scrutinised for any truth and accuracy ..

Covfefe TV has a much nicer ring to it...