Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell congratulated Democrat Joe Biden on Tuesday, calling him the president-elect and saying the Electoral College “has spoken”.
The Republican leader’s statement, delivered in the Senate floor, ends weeks of silence over the defeat of President Donald Trump. This comes after the voters met on Monday and confirmed Biden’s victory in the elections.
McConnell said: “As of this morning, our country has officially an elected president and an elected vice president.”
“Millions of us were hoping that the presidential election would yield a different result,” McConnell said. “But our government system has procedures for deciding who will take the oath on January 20. The Electoral College has spoken.”
Regarding Biden, McConnell said the Democrat was “no stranger to the Senate” and “has dedicated himself to public service for many years.” Biden and McConnell sided in the Senate for 24 years, until Biden served as Vice President under Barack Obama.
McConnell also acknowledged the historic achievement of Biden’s representative in the election, Kamala Harris, who was a California Senator.
“Regardless of our differences, all Americans can be proud that our nation has a vice president elected for the first time,” said the Kentucky Republican.
McConnell opened his remarks by commending Trump’s four years in office, saying that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence “deserve our thanks.” The Senate leader cited Trump’s nomination and subsequent Senate confirmation of three Supreme Court justices, among other accomplishments.
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has recognized for the first time Joe Biden, winner of this year’s US presidential election. The President-elect congratulated Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their electoral college victory. 0:53
WATCH l Biden makes statements after states agree to the Electoral College vote:
US President-elect Joe Biden said it was time for unity and recovery after the Electoral College confirmed his victory over Donald Trump by 306 votes to 232. 1:35
McConnell said last month, after Biden passed the minimum 270 electoral votes, that Trump should be allowed to pursue all legal challenges related to the election. These appeals were dismissed overwhelmingly by the courts, which cited lack of evidence or lack of capacity.
Mo Brooks, a conservative Republican congressman, has pledged to file appeals over the election result when Congress formally reviews the vote on January 6, though it is certain that both houses will reject his efforts. Democrats control the House of Representatives, while many moderate Republicans in the Senate have already openly accepted Biden’s victory.
WATCH l McConnell admits Biden and Harris after the Electoral College move:
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, had a message for either Republican naysayers, as well as Trump.
Schumer said, “Leader McConnell’s Republican senators should follow his example. They must acknowledge that Joe Biden will be the next president and Camala Harris will be the next vice president.” “ And for the sake of the country, President Trump should be guided by Leader McConnell, that the time has come to end his term with a measure of mercy and dignity, qualities that his predecessors have made a great effort to demonstrate during our great traditions of peace transfer of power.
“Enough is enough.”
Putin, Lopez Obrador congratulate Biden
The recognition by the most powerful Republican in Congress came after Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Biden on his victory in the US presidential election.
The Kremlin had said earlier that the Russian president would postpone Biden’s congratulations until the winner was officially confirmed. “We are just waiting for the end of the internal political confrontation,” Putin said last month, referring to the many Republican challenges to the vote count.
In his message earlier Tuesday, Putin wished Biden “every success”, according to the Kremlin statement Tuesday, and expressed confidence that “Russia and the United States, which bear a special responsibility for global security and stability, can, despite their differences, truly contribute to a solution.” The problem. Many problems and challenges that the world is currently facing. “
The Russian president pointed out that “Russian-American cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual respect will meet the interests of the two peoples in the two countries and the entire international community.”
“For my part, I am ready to interact and communicate with you,” the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Biden also congratulated Biden on Tuesday in an official letter. He was also waiting to be checked by the Electoral College.
Zombie specialist. Friendly twitter guru. Internet buff. Organizer. Coffee trailblazer. Lifelong problem solver. Certified travel enthusiast. Alcohol geek.