Biden president-elect: US election 2020 results live | Trump's tweets & Victory speech | Latest news

AOC holds nothing back in criticising Democratic strategy

The New York Times have reported a no holds barred interview post election with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic representative for New York.

In it, she warns fellow Democrats that if the Biden administration does not put progressives in top positions, the party would lose big in the 2022 midterm elections.

She also forcefully rejects the idea that progressive messaging around the Movement for Black Lives and the Green New Deal led to the party’s loss of congressional seats in last week’s election.

The real problem, said Ocasio-Cortez, was that the party lacked “core competencies” to run campaigns.

“There’s a reason Barack Obama built an entire national campaign apparatus outside of the Democratic National Committee,” she told the Times’ Astead Herndon. “And there’s a reason that when he didn’t activate or continue that, we lost House majorities. Because the party – in and of itself – does not have the core competencies, and no amount of money is going to fix that.”

Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated a longtime Democratic politician in 2018 and who won re-election in her Bronx district by more than 50 points, endorsed the Vermont senator, Bernie Sanders, over Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary, according to The Guardian's article on the report.

Grassroots activism that produced large turnout in Detroit, Philadelphia and Georgia was crucial to Biden’s win, and if the Democratic party fails to recognise that and incorporate the grassroots, the party disintegrates at the ballot box, Ocasio-Cortez said.

US ELECTION

US election 2020: senate results by state

Georgia on our mind

Democrats and Republicans are neck and neck in the race to win control of the Senate, with 31 of the 35 seats being contested now decided.

And we may find ourselves listening to a Hoagy Carmichael classic come January.

Trump incredibly aligned to Jesus 

Donald Trump's most faithful followers have been described as a cult, some of whom should maybe brush up on the Ten Commandments.

Here the metaphor used for the fight back of the president appears to have the man with a long list of ungodly actions in his repertoire as Jesus, and Biden as Satan, is as warped as could be.

Gates and Bezos send congratulations

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos celebrated Biden and Harris’ win in an Instagram post. Bezos said their victory signifies that “unity, empathy and decency are not characteristics of a bygone era.”

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who has been a vocal critic of Trump’s coronavirus response, said he looked forward to “working with the new administration and leaders on both sides in Congress on getting the surging pandemic under control.”

Trump asks a question that he should know the answer to

The latest tweet from the president's Twitter tirade suggests he's never paid attention to how US elections are done in the past.

It also suggests that he now includes his supportive Fox News in the Lamestream Media.

Saudi king and Crown Prince congratulate Biden on US election win

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on winning the presidential election, state news agency SPA reported.

As other Arab countries raced to congratulate the Democrat, the kingdom's de facto ruler, Prince Mohammed, had remained silent on the defeat of President Donald Trump, whose Middle East policies and staunch opposition to Iran had Riyadh's backing. (Reuters)

Former Obama officials Morell, Haines likely candidates for Biden spy jobs - sources

Two former senior U.S. intelligence officials - Michael Morell and Avril Haines - have emerged as leading contenders to serve as Director of National Intelligence or run the CIA in President-elect Joe Biden's administration, several current and former intelligence officials said.

Morell served as the Central Intelligence Agency's deputy director in the Obama Administration between 2010 and 2013, and during that time also served two stints as acting agency director. Haines, served as CIA deputy director and as President Barack Obama's deputy national security advisor, said the sources. (Reuters). 

Jill Biden "enormously greatful" to Americans for electing her husband

Joe Biden's wife, Dr. Jill Biden, is "enormously grateful" that Americans chose her husband to be the next president of the United States, according to a statement from spokesperson Michael LaRosa.

"Joe Biden will be a president for all Americans. She is spending time with her children and grandchildren in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Biden is focused on building her team and developing her priorities focused on education, military families and veterans, and cancer," LaRosa said (via CNN).

GOP leader backs Trumps legal campaign

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has joined other Republican lawmakers and expressed his backing to Donald Trump's as he looks to legally challenge the result of the election, reports the WSJ...

Melania Trump tells husband to accept defeat

First lady Melania Trump has reportedly advised her president to accept defeat, accoridng to a CNN source. 

"Though she has not publicly commented on the election, privately Melania Trump has weighed in with her opinion, this person said," said CNN.

“She has offered it, as she often does,” said the source.

Former US President Bush congratulates President-elect Biden

Former US President George W. Bush, a Republican, said on Sunday he has spoken to President-elect Joe Biden, a Democrat, to congratulate him on his victory.

In a statement, Bush said Americans can have confidence the US election was 'fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear.'

He added President Donald Trump has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges.

AOC ends truce and warns Democrats

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has criticised the Democratic party for incompetence in a no-holds-barred, post-election interview with the New York Times, warning that if the Biden administration does not put progressives in top positions, the party would lose big in the 2022 midterm elections.

Signaling that the internal moratorium in place while the Democrats worked to defeat Donald Trump was over, the leftwing New York representative sharply rejected the notion advanced by some Democrats that progressive messaging around the Movement for Black Lives and the Green New Deal led to the party’s loss of congressional seats in last week’s election.

Full story from The Guardian

Trump's Twitter account to become civil

US President Donald Trump will be subject to the same Twitter Inc rules as any other user when President-elect Joe Biden takes office on 20 January, the social media company confirmed this week.

Twitter places 'public interest' notices on some rule-breaking tweets from 'world leaders' that would otherwise be removed. Such tweets from political candidates and elected or government officials are instead hidden by a warning and Twitter takes actions to restrict their reach. But the company said this treatment does not apply to former office holders.

'This policy framework applies to current world leaders and candidates for office, and not private citizens when they no longer hold these positions,' a Twitter spokesman said in a statement. It has added multiple warnings and labels to tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account, including many since Tuesday's election that made unfounded allegations of voting fraud. It first hid one of his tweets behind a 'public interest' label in May when the president violated the company's policy against glorifying violence.

Under Facebook Inc's policies, it appears that after Biden takes office in January, Trump's posts would also no longer be exempt from review by Facebook's third-party fact-checking partners. Facebook's online policy says it defines politicians, whose posts are exempt from fact-checking, as candidates running for office, current office holders and many of their cabinet appointees, along with political parties and their leaders.

It says 'former candidates for office or former officials continue to be covered by our third-party fact-checking programme.' Facebook did not reply to Reuters questions about how it would treat Trump's account.

USA News

US presidents of the past: Democrat and Republican

Know your presidential history

Democrat Joe Biden has beaten Republican candidate Donald Trump and becomes the 46th leader of the United States, and the 16th Democrat president.

Do you know what change occurred in 1951 thanks to the approval of the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution? Read on...

Florida braces itself for another storm

After the intensity of the Trump-Biden debates in the state, Florida is now expecting to have to deal with Mother Nature.

Trump goes golfing, again

The current president, Donald Trump, appears to have gone golfing for the second day in a row. His motorcade recently arrived at Trump National Golf Club, in Sterling, Virginia, according to a White House reporter.

A few demonstrators lined the sidewalks near the entrance of the club. Two signs read: “ORANGE CRUSHED” and “TRUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL.”

US Election 2020

Has Trump tweeted since Biden won US presidential election 2020?

Trump's tweets since his big election lose

How has the defeated one-time TV personality taken the news that he won’t serve another term? Not well. Here’s what he’s been tweeting since yesterday.

Joe Biden's coronavirus attack plan

During the campaign Biden had a page on his website dedicated to his covid-19 plans, stating:

"Public health emergencies require disciplined, trustworthy leadership grounded in science. In a moment of crisis, leadership requires listening to experts and communicating credible information to the American public. We must move boldly, smartly, and swiftly."

It outlined five key points to follow:

- Restoring trust, credibility, and common purpose.

- Mounting an effective national emergency response that saves lives, protects frontline workers, and minimizes the spread of Covid.

Eliminating cost barriers for prevention of and care for Covid.

- Pursuing decisive economic measures to help hard-hit workers, families, and small businesses and to stabilize the American economy.

- Rallying the world to confront this crisis while laying the foundation for the future.

Transition 46 Twitter account launched for Biden Harris

Joe Biden’s team have just launched @Transition46 – the official account of the Biden-Harris presidential transition.

Relive the moment the Trump campaign found out Biden won

Rudy Giuliani was left stumped and flailing in the face of defeat.

Defeated Trump starts tweeting again

It's business as usual in Trump-land this morning. 

Trump is now not even addressing the fact that he lost the electoral college by a landslide, just yesterday. He's focusing his efforts on Pennsylvania where Joe Biden beat him by over 40,000 votes at the last count.

Fact Check:

His claim that any discrepancies in mail in ballots in the state would affect the entire election are completely untrue.

Joe Biden has won 290 electoral college votes so far.

US ELECTION 2020

Joe Biden family life: his first wife, children, personal tragedies

Joe Biden's personal life, explained

US president-elect Joe Biden has suffered his fair share of personal tragedies. His first wife and daughter were killed in a car crash and he lost his son to illness.

US Election 2020

US Election 2020: what happens if a president-elect dies?

What happens if a new president dies?

It’s extremely unlikely to happen to Biden, but at 77 he’s also contending with a pandemic and a fiercely divided electorate, so nothing is impossible.

The 2020 US election in 10 key statistics

From how much college-educated voter turnout increased, to how many more Latinos in Florida turned out for Trump and the numbers of times Trump has lost the popular vote. Reuters has it covered.

Joe Biden's distant relatives celebrate in Ireland

When the election was called for Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Saturday afternoon, the town of Ballina was ready to celebrate. Pride in the president-elect, considered a native son of this charming town on Ireland’s west coast — albeit five generations removed — runs strong here.

The first champagne cork was popped by Mr. Biden’s distant cousins in the town’s Market Square, watched by a few hundred delighted townspeople, two hours before CNN made the call. Someone drove up in a cherry red ’57 Buick Electra coupe with Elvis cushions in the back window. A speaker played Mr. Biden’s campaign song, Bruce Springsteen’s “We Take Care of Our Own,” and the walk-on music from former President Bill Clinton’s winning campaign, “Don’t Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow).”

Mr. Biden’s great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt was born in Ballina and emigrated to Scranton, Pa., just after the great Irish famine of 1845 to 1849, according to historians. Gerry Luskin, a local restaurateur and president of the Ballina Chamber of Commerce, said there were longstanding links between his town and Scranton, which are sister cities.

Courtesy of The New York Times

Why "faithless electors" won't change the election result

...in a nutshell

US Elections

Biden's victory speech after winning US Election 2020 and becoming the new president

Missed Biden's acceptance speech in Delaware?

President-elect Biden took a conciliatory tone as he gave a speech saying he would be honoured to be the 46th president of the United States.

Read the full story:

AOC holds nothing back in criticising Democratic strategy

The New York Times have reported a no holds barred interview post election with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic representative for New York.

In it, she warns fellow Democrats that if the Biden administration does not put progressives in top positions, the party would lose big in the 2022 midterm elections.

She also forcefully rejects the idea that progressive messaging around the Movement for Black Lives and the Green New Deal led to the party’s loss of congressional seats in last week’s election.

The real problem, said Ocasio-Cortez, was that the party lacked “core competencies” to run campaigns.

“There’s a reason Barack Obama built an entire national campaign apparatus outside of the Democratic National Committee,” she told the Times’ Astead Herndon. “And there’s a reason that when he didn’t activate or continue that, we lost House majorities. Because the party – in and of itself – does not have the core competencies, and no amount of money is going to fix that.”

Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated a longtime Democratic politician in 2018 and who won re-election in her Bronx district by more than 50 points, endorsed the Vermont senator, Bernie Sanders, over Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary, according to The Guardian's article on the report.

Grassroots activism that produced large turnout in Detroit, Philadelphia and Georgia was crucial to Biden’s win, and if the Democratic party fails to recognise that and incorporate the grassroots, the party disintegrates at the ballot box, Ocasio-Cortez said.

What happens now Biden's been elected?

8 December: this is the deadline for resolving election disputes at the state level. All state recounts and court contests over presidential election results are to be completed by this date.

14 December: Electors vote by paper ballot in their respective state capitols and also in the District of Columbia, which while it is the seat of the US government, is not actually a state. Thirty-three states and DC. have laws or party regulations requiring electors to vote the same way the popular vote goes in the state. In some states, electors can even be replaced or subjected to penalties if they don’t toe the line. An elector who doesn’t vote according to who won the popular vote is known as a ‘faithless elector’. The votes for president and vice president are counted and the electors sign six “Certificates of the Vote.” The certificates, along with other official papers, are sent by registered mail to various officials, including the president of the Senate.

23 December: The certificates must be delivered to the designated officials.

6 January 2021: The House and Senate hold a joint session to count the electoral votes. If one ticket has received 270 or more electoral votes, the president of the Senate, currently vice president Mike Pence, announces the results.

If neither presidential candidate wins at least 270 electoral votes, the House can decide the election, based on the 12th Amendment to the Constitution. If required, it would elect the president through a majority vote. That’s not going to happen in 2021 – Joe Biden will easily clear the 270 threshold.

20 January 2021: The president-elect is sworn into office on Inauguration Day. The outgoing president welcomes the president-elect to the White House. Then in a ceremony traditionally attended by all living former presidents, the new president swears the Oath of Office. This is presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, which is currently John Roberts.

Via Guardian

Trump Twitter immunity to end as he leaves office

Shaun King tweeted "Twitter has confirmed that on the day Trump leaves office, he will no longer receive the "Head of State" exemptions that have protected his account from being suspended or closed for posting false information, for posting targeted harassment, hate speech, etc."

Prayers of gratitude for election of 'daughter of India' Kamala Harris as US Vice President

Indians burst firecrackers on Sunday and offered prayers of gratitude over the election of Kamala Harris as the next US vice president, declaring it a proud moment for Indian-Americans. Harris, born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, both of whom immigrated to the United States to study, made history by becoming the first woman to win the second-highest US office in the election.

At her ancestral village in southern India, children clutched posters of Harris as people gathered at a Hindu temple to thank the gods for the victory that she and president-elect Joe Biden won. Priests at the temple in Thulasendrapuram village bathed the local deity in milk and prayed. Women drew murals in the courtyard and musicians played traditional music. "A woman hailing from this small village now holds one of highest positions in US. It's a proud moment,' said R Kamaraj, a government minister in the southern state of Tamil Nadu who joined the celebrations.

Harris, who visited the village when she was five, has often recalled walks with her maternal grandfather on the beaches of the southern city of Chennai during annual trips from the States. Those conversations with her grandfather, who was among millions of people who joined India's independence movement, left a profound impact, Harris said in a 2018 speech. She has been in close touch with her family in India and her uncle said he planned to attend the inauguration in January.

"It's great. It was needed and it was good. And the next four years will be good," G. Balachandran, a leading defence scholar, told Reuters partner ANI at his home in New Delhi, where like millions of people worldwide, he watched every turn and twist of the election. "I knew she was going to win. So, I was not tense, except I wanted the final results to come in so that I could go and sleep". In Mumbai, people shot off fireworks and a group of artists painted a portrait of Biden and Harris.

First Lady Jill Biden plans to remain in her teaching job

Jill Biden, an English professor with four degrees - including a doctorate plans to keep her full-time teaching job after she and her husband into the White House in January. The wife of the president-elect is a lecturer at the English department at Northern Virginia Community College. Back in August, she told CBS' Sunday Morning programme that she wouldn't give up her teaching job if her husband won the presidential elections. “If we get to the White House, I’m gonna continue to teach,” she said. “It’s important, and I want people to value teachers and know their contributions, and lift up the profession.” If she remains in teaching, Jill Biden could become the only first lady to hold a paid job outside the White House. 

Americans take to the streets to celebrate Biden triumph

Crowds of Americans took to the street to rejoice as Joe Biden was proclaimed the country's 46th president on Saturday. From Washington to Brooklyn, TIME put together a short video showing the celebrations.

Biden will have no greater ally than UK says foreign minister Dominic Raab

US President-elect Joe Biden will have no closer ally or more dependable friend than Britain, foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday, expressing excitement to work with the new administration. "I am very confident from climate change to cooperation on coronavirus and counter-terrorism there is a huge bedrock of underlying interests and values that binds us very closely together ... He will have no greater ally, no more dependable friend than the United Kingdom," he told Sky News.

Iran president Rouhani says next US administration should make up for Trump's mistakes

The next US administration should use the opportunity to compensate for President Donald Trump's mistakes, Iranian state media quoted President Hassan Rouhani as saying on Sunday after Democrat Joe Biden captured the US presidency.

"Trump's damaging policy has been opposed...by the American people. The next US administration should use the opportunity to make up for past mistakes...Iran favours constructive interaction with the world," Rouhani said.

Biden has pledged to rejoin Iran's 2015 nuclear accord with six powers, a deal that was agreed by Washington when he was vice president, if Iran also returns to compliance. Tensions have spiked between the longtime foes since 2018, when Trump exited the deal and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. In retaliation, Tehran has gradually reduced its commitments to the accord. But Iran's clerical rulers have said those steps were reversible if Tehran's interests were respected. "The heroic resistance of the Iranian people proved that the policy of maximum pressure is doomed to failure," Rouhani said.

Biden's granddaughter posts photo of momentous moment

Joe Biden's granddaughter Naomi shared a photograph on social media of the family moments after they found out about the election result. NBC report that the 77-year-old and his wife Jill were out in the garden when they discovered the 270-vote mark had been passed, to cheers and applause from family members inside the house.

Biden victory dominates press front pages in Spain

Joe Biden's presidential victory was the lead story in all of the Spanish press on Sunday morning. El País ran with the headline, "Biden defeats Trump" (The Democrat logged an historic victory which curtailed the advance of populism in the world's most powerful nation. The president refuses to accept the result).

 El Mundo's headline read: "Biden is proclaimed president, seeing off Trump's populism. 

ABC's front cover showed a full-bleed photo of the new president-elect an Kamala Harris with a simple headline: Biden" - "This is the moment to heal America".

La Razón had a photograph of Biden in jubilant pose with the headline: "The Biden Era" - "In an unprecedented act, Trump refused to accept defeat and threatens to instigate a constitutional crisis. People took to the streets to celebrate the end of the populist experiment".

'A sky full of stars' - Biden and Harris' victory song with special meaning

Coldplay's 2014 single "A sky full of stars" taken off the English band's sixth album 'Ghosts' played as fireworks lit up the sky in Delaware last night and according to CNN, the song has a special significance for president-elect Joe Biden as it was the favourite song of his late son Beau. Beau Biden died aged just 46 in May 2015 after a long battle with a brain tumour. Coldplay lead signer Chris Martin attended the funeral and played a solo rendition of the group's song, "Til Kingdom Come".

Israel's Netanyahu congratulates Biden on US election win, thanks Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated US President-elect Joe Biden after his election win saying he looked forward to working together with the new administration and strengthening the two countries' alliance.

"Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Joe, we've had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel. I look forward to working with both of you to further strengthen the special alliance between the U.S. and Israel," Netanyahu said on his Twitter account, which still carries a photograph of him and incumbent US President Donald Trump at its head. "Thank you @realDonaldTrump for the friendship you have shown the state of Israel and me personally, for recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights," Netanyahu tweeted.

Kamala Harris: "The road ahead will not be easy, but America is ready"

In her victory speech, Kamala Harris said, "Congressman John Lewis wrote that democracy is not a state, it is an act. And what he meant, he meant is that America's democracy is not guaranteed. It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it. To guard it and never take it for granted. Protecting our democracy takes struggle, it takes sacrifice - but there is joy in it and there is progress. The road ahead will not be easy, but America is ready. And so are Joe and I. We have elected a president who represents the best in us. A leader the world will respect and our children can look up to. A Commander in Chief who will respect our troops and keep our country safe - and a president for all Americans."

Biden pledges to listen to the scientists to get coronavirus under control

It is thought that Donald Trump's mismanagement of the covid-19 pandemic was one of the major barriers to his reelection and it will form an important part of Joe Biden's presidency. He spoke this evening about listening to the scientists and is expected to announce his coronavirus task force tomorrow.

America is well in the midst of a second wave at the moment with 128,000 new cases recorded on Saturday, the fourth day in a row in which the US broke its case count record. Another 1,097 Americans lost their lives. 

Update from Maricopa County expected tomorrow

One of the focal points of the election has been the progress of vote counting in Maricopa County where Joe Biden outperformed expectations to flip the county, and in turn win the state of Arizona. It was a crucial victory but one that Donald Trump is refusing to concede. 

The next batch of vote conting for Maricopa County will be announced at 4PM tomorrow and could have significance on Trump's final weeks in the White House. He has pledged to file a lawsuit in Arizona but if Biden can build an insurmountable lead he may be dissauded from going ahead with it, particularly given the expensive legal actions and recounts that he has committed to elsewhere. 

Australian newspaper optimistic about Biden presidency

Donald Trump has not been a particularly popular President in terms of his global standing and newspapers from around the world are showing that in their coverage of his defeat to Joe Biden. Australia's Sunday Times took Trump's original campaign slogan from his 2016 election and reinterpretted it for 2020. 

“I’m beyond thrilled that my friend Joe Biden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, Kamala Harris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it."

Biden supporters celebrate near Trump Tower

There were jubilant scenes across the country today when Joe Biden was called as the 46th president. People were seen partying in the streets in a number of cities but few places could match New York city, which had been Donald Trump's home town until he switched his residency to Florida last year. 

Full transcript of Joe Biden speech

Here's every word from the former Vice President's speech this evening.

Joe Biden calls for unity

The President Elect spoke to a crowd in Wilmington, Delaware to lay out his vision for the next four years. In his first address since the election was called, he promised “to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify."

"To make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy. We are not enemies. We are Americans," he said. 

Former Obama speechwriter optimistic about the future 

After watching President Elect Joe Biden's first speech since winning the presidency the former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, Jon Favreau, is feeling a sense of relief. 

While Biden was speaking, Favreau tweeted: "This is the speech and the president the country needs right now."

Biden leads by over 9,000 in Georgia

The focus has shifted away from vote counting today as the race was called for Joe Biden but there are still states hanging in the balance. Georgia was not expected to be in play for the Democrats but the latest count puts Biden 9,160 ahead. 

Usually this would be of no material importance but with Donald Trump still pursuing litigation around the country, a comprehensive victory for Biden could make a difference. If Biden can win a significant number of the undecided votes he could be so far ahead in the Electoral College that Trump finally decides to admit defeat. 

US Elections

Joe Biden wins US presidential election 2020: victory speech

Joe Biden wins US presidential election 2020: victory speech

President-elect Biden took a conciliatory tone as he gave a speech saying he would be honoured to be the 46th president of the United States.

Families join Biden and Harris on stage

Once the speeches were over with both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris invited their families up on stage to take in this momentous achievement. The President Elect welcomed his wife, Jil Biden, out in Delaware, along with his son Hunter Biden and and his grandchildren. 

Harris was joined by husband Douglas Emhoff, as well as Emhoff's childrn from a previous marriage. The Vice President Elect made a touching tribute to her late mother during her speech, who she credited as a major inspiration in her life. 

Presidential pups

There will be canines back in the White House again as Champ and Major Biden are set to make the move to Washington DC, with Joe and Jill Biden. Major, a German Shephard, will become the first rescue dog to make it to the highest office in the land. 

Biden calls for Americans to come together

The speeches from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have now concluded. It was a very well-measured address from the President Elect who called on Americans to come together and help heal the divisions that have deepened in the last four years. 

He promised to rule not as a Democrat, but as an American. Unity has been the rallying cry for the Biden - Harris ticket and that was reflected in their first appearance since the victory was announced earlier today. 

"This grim era of demonisation ends here and now... If we can decided not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate. That is the mandate that I have from the American people."

Biden started this speech with a clear message

"America has bent the moral arc of the universe towards justice."

Kamala Harris: “While I may be the first woman in this office I will not be the last.”

"The road ahead will not be easy. But America is ready, and so are Joe and I."

Joe Biden to give first speech as President Elect shortly  

Day five of the 2020 presidential election and we finally have a victor, Joe Biden will address the nation from Wilmington, Delaware in the coming moments

Crowd watches Biden speech from Times Square

There were widespread celebrations in New York city today when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' victory was confirmed and thousands of people are eager to watch their first public appearances as President Elect and Vice Prsident Elect. 

What are Joe Biden's first priorities upon taking office?

President Elect Joe Biden will not be sworn in until January 2021 but he has a list of urgent matters to attend to when he does enter the White House. Here's what the Washington Post's Jeff Stein thinks will be his main priorities, and he may well mention them in his speech tonight. 

US Elections

US Elections 2020: Parties erupt over US to celebrate Biden's win

Parties erupt over US to celebrate Biden's win

We're close to the President Elect's first speech since the win was confirmed, at the end of a momentous day for America. After Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in the Presidential election his supporters came out in droves to celebrate in cities across the US on Saturday

The Return of the Jedi?

Star Wars actor Mark Hammill, who played Luke Skywalker in the series, has his own unique take on the changing fortunes of the United States over the last decade. 

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris arrive in Delaware

With just minutes to go until their first speeches as President- and Vice President-Elect, the victorious Democratic ticket for the 2020 presidential election have arrived.

President Elect Biden to address the nation 

We'll be covering Joe BIden's first public appearance since becoming President Elect earlier today. He will speak from Wilmington, Delaware at 8:00PM ET. 

US ELECTIONS 2020

Who is Kamala Harris, the new US vice-president?

Who is Kamala Harris, the new US vice-president?

After the victory was announced for Joe Biden over Donald Trump to take over in the White House, interest grew again in history-maker, Kamala Harris. The Vice President Elect is expected to take the stage aongside the President Elect in around 20 minutes for Biden's victory speech from Wilimington, Delaware. 

New VP

This is great from @nowthisnews

LeBron James posts to celebrate Biden victory

Basketball star LeBron James has been a pretty vocal critic of Donald Trump at times so it is no surprise that he was overjoyed with today's result. He posted an image of Joe Biden dunking on the incumbent President, a post that has already received nearly one million likes. 

Bernie Sanders give his take on election result

Democratic primary candidate Bernie Sanders congratulated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their victory in what he called "the most important election in modern American history". 

He added: "The very future of our democracy and the rule of law in our country was at stake"

Will we get a concession speech from Trump?

Usually the news of a presidential race being called is swiftly followed by a concession speech from the loser, but there is no sign of that yet. Donald Trump appears set on continuing to attempt to litigate his way out of the defeat but there is no evidence to support his claims. 

Many people have been sharing footage of John McCain's concession speech from 2008 when he called for unity and for the American people to support their new President, offering congratulations to Barack Obama. 

Miley Cyrus' 'Party in the USA' returns to the Top 40

The pop star first released the song in 2009 but shared it again today in celebration of Joe Biden's victory. The video posted by Miley Cyrus featured the film over the top of clips that included Biden, Kamala Harris dancing with school children and Donald Trump being escorted off a stage. 

The song has clearly captured the public mood and has returned to the Billboard Top 40 following the announcement. 

US football commentator Grant Wahl on the celebrations

Throughtout the day we've seen scenes of jubilation in a number of American cities reacting to the news that Joe Biden will be the 46th President. Football expert Grant Wahl compared the celerbations in New York City to that of a major tournament when the host's have had a big win. 

US ELECTIONS

Biden wins US election 2020: how many popular votes did he get vs other presidents?

Biden wins US election 2020: how many popular votes did he get vs other presidents?

Joe Biden will be the new US president after breaking Obama’s popular vote record with almost 75 million, the most ever cast for a presidential candidate.

Trump will face stricter Twitter rules once presidency ends

As President of the United States Donald Trump has had a number of disputes with tech companies, notably with Facebook and Twitter adding misinformation warnings to his baseless post-election tweets. 

But it seems like he's been getting away with it up until now with Twitter offering him more leeway with his tweets than normal users. A Twitter spokesman told The Hill:

"Twitter’s approach to world leaders, candidates and public officials is based on the principle that people should be able to choose to see what their leaders are saying with clear context. This means that we may apply warnings and labels, and limit engagement to certain Tweets."

WIth Trump's time in office ending in January 2021 he will no longer receive that protection and he could be in serious danger of losing his account unless he cuts out the inaccuracies.

Trump supporters react to election defeat

The drawn-out vote counting process has created a perculiar void in American political discourse, with the last four days of uncertainty only just reaching a conclusion today. Donald Trump continues to make accusations of electoral fraud but with no evidence to support his claims it remains to be see how Joe Biden will attempt to reunite a fractured nation. 

Naomi Biden posts picture of family celebrations

The President Elect's granddaughter Naomi Biden posted a celebratory picture today as her grandfather secured the presidency. She captioned the pic 11.07.20, the date that the Democrats' victory was finally confirmed.

Kamala Harris tweets thanks to supporters

The new Vice President Elect had some brief words of thanks to those who helped her and Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election. Harris becomes the first woman to serve as Vice President, and the first person of colour since Charles Curtis who served from 1929 to 1933. 

President of EPP thankful for Trump defeat

Donald Tuck was the President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019 and is the current head of the Euopean People's Party. He was clearly no big fan of Donald Trump and praised Joe Biden's victory as a new opportunity for Europe and America to work together. 

Biden presidential transition to begin on Monday

With the election decided, attention for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris must now switch to January 2021 when they will officially take up their new roles. The President Elect's transition period begins on Monday but much of the planning has already been done to ensure a smoth transition of power. 

One of the first announcements is expected to be the naming of Biden's new coronavirus task force, a move designed to illustrate how seriously he is taking the issue. Accoring to CNN, the task force will be co-chaired by former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler, and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, associate professor of medicine at Yale University.

Another "disputed" tweet from the President

Donald Trump's electoral defeat was confirmed today but he is sticking resolutely to the baseless 'fraud' line that he has spouted for months now. This is the latest dispatch from the President of the United States - factually innacurate, endlessly petty and, perhaps, likely to continue for some time yet. 

Spike Lee joins in the Brooklyn celebrations

The award-winning director is a known disliker of Donald Trump and he was eager to celebrate the news that the President had lost reelection. He was seen swigging bubbly in the street in Brookly, New York, joining in with the city-wide party. 

Mitt Romney congratulates Biden and Harris

In 2008 Mitt Romney was the Republican candidate who lost to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, but he was full of praise for his old opponent after Biden's victory was called today. Romney, currently the Republican Senator for Utah, describes Biden and Kamala Harris as "people of good will and admirable character"

Trump stuck in the rough

A nice game of golf was disrupted earlier today when Donald Trump was informed that Joe Biden's presidential victory had been called by all major networks while out on the course. Trump has been criticised for the frequency of his golf trips while in office (299 and counting, mostly at his own courses) and it may have been a fitting way for his premiership to end. 

His round in Virginia was cut short as he headed back to the White House, with sources claiming that he intends to discuss his options going forward with his legal team in the coming days. 

US ELECTION

Donald Trump faces lawsuits after losing presidential immunity

Donald Trump faces lawsuits after losing presidential immunity

After it was called that Joe Biden would take over the presidency of the United States, some attention turned to the future that could await the man departing the White House.

"No plans" for Trump to invite Biden to the White House

A source close to the White House has confirmed to CNN that there are currently "no plans" for President Trump to invite President Elect Biden to the White House in the coming days. Usually the outgoing President would meet with the incomer, with an Oval Office meeting part of the usual tradition. 

Trump himself has often made reference to a meeting between himself and predesessor Barack Obama. However with Trump likey to contest the result there will be no time for formalities this time, but then it's not like Biden doesn't know his way around already. 

RTE posts clip of Joe Biden reading Seamus Heaney poem

The President Elect has Irish ancestry and national broadcaster RTE today celebrated his election victory by airing a clip of Joe Biden reading a poem by the great Irish poet Seamus Heaney. He won the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature and was described by the New Boston Review as "a symbol of hope in a troubled land". 

World leaders congratulate Joe Biden

Messages of support have been pouring in all day as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' victory was confirmed. A number of politicians from around the world sent their congratulations to the Democratic nominees who will replace Donald Trump in the White House. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was one of the first to express congratulations to Biden and Kamala Harris. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was less diplomatic, writing "Welcome back America!" on Twitter, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her happiness that Biden would become the 46th President of the United States. 

Philadelphia celebrates Trump defeat

Just two nights ago Donald Trump described Philadelphia as one of the most corrupt places in America, as it became clear that the city's support for Joe Biden looked like flipping the state of Pennsylvania for the Democrats. The President received widespread criticism for his baseless remarks, and the people of Philly have had the last laugh.

Fox News: Trump to consider his options over the coming days

John Roberts of Fox News has reported that the President will consult his advisors to decide whether he has any realistic chance of fighting the election result. Since Election Night he has cut a defiant figure, clinging to his oft-repeated claims of voter fraud and publicising a number of lawsuits being filed by his campaign. 

Earlier today his personal attorney held a press conference claiming that they intended to fight it all the way, but it seems that Trump is now considering his options. Considering his constant accusations of fraud and bombastic promises to 'fight for the people', it would require quite a U-turn from his at this stage. 

New York reacts to Biden win

Despite the incombent being born and raised in Queens there was no questioning who New Yorkers favoured this election. For the ninth consecutive election the state returned a vote for the Democrats, and there were scenes of jubilation on the announcement that Joe Biden would be the 46th president of the United States. 

Donald Trump returns to the White House

The President had been playing golf when the race was officially called for the Democrats and appeared to be in a sombre mood when he returned to the capital this afternoon. Reports suggest that today was his 299th game of golf since he took office, less than four years ago. 

Trump impeachment witness congratulates Biden

Alexander Vindman was the top expert on Ukraine at the National Security Council  during part of Donald Trump's presidency and was on the July 25, 2019 phone call between Trump and Zelensky that led to the impeachment hearing. Vindman reported it to White House lawyers and, after Trump avoid prosecution for the affair, was later dismissed from his role in the White House.

He may not be a vindictive man, but Alexander surely took some pleasure from Trump's removal from the White House, a year after his own. He praised this moment as an opportunity to "start to heal and rebuild."

Crowd waits for Trump's return to the White House

Footage from earlier today showed that the President was on the golf course when the race was finally called for Joe Biden. As Trump made the journey back to the White House a crowd had gathered in Washington DC to show their support for the victor.

White House clings to hope in Arizona despite defeat

Despite the state race being called days ago and Joe Biden still being in possession a comfortable lead with generally Democrat-leaning votes left to be counted, the White House are not giving up hope of retaining Arizona. Stephen Moore, economist and author of Trumponomics, has revealed that the Trump administration are still hopeful of securing a win there. 

It is thought that the campaign are considering legal action there after the state GOP filed a lawsuit earlier this week. However it is nothing more than extremely speculative, with Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs saying: “They don't have a legal pathway to challenge. We are legally counting valid ballots, and there's not a way to stop that,” 

Official confirmation from the Four Seasons

Not something the luxury hotel chain thought they would ever have to tweet in relation to a presidential election, but then it's been an odd few days. 

Guiliani gives bizarre 'Four Seasons' press conference

With litigation clearly the main focus for Donald Trump now that the race has been called for Joe Biden, his personal attorney has been out and about setting the tone for their next steps. Guiliani was announced to be briefing the world's press on the Trump campaign's thoughts about the future of the presidency, which would be done from the Four Seasons. 

However, in what can only be assumed to have been a pretty epic logistical mix-up, Guiliani was not speaking from a five star hotel, but from the parking lot of a landscaping firm. 

Anyone hoping that the industrial unit would be the site of an honourable admission of defeat would have been disappointed: Guiliani blamed "hateful biases" toward President Trump for the outcome, adding "networks don't get to decide elections, courts do."

It should be said, courts do not usually decide elections...

Biden and Harris change their Twitter bios to reflect victory

With the Democrats' win finally called by the nation's media this afternoon there was a bit of admin for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to take care of.

They have now changed their profiles to read “president elect” and “vice president elect”, coming shortly after the Associated Press (AP) and other news outlets called Pennsylvania, and therefore the presidency on Saturday. 

Queens man evicted

How do you sum up a day of such monumental political, society and historical significance? Donald Trump has lost his relection bid and his hometown newspaper, the Queens Daily Eagle, has its own take on events.

Their latest editions describes the defeat as: "A 74-year-old Jamaica Estates developer has less than three months left at his current address after Americans overwhelmingly voted him out of the White House, the AP projected Saturday."

Scottish reaction to Trump loss

The news about President-elect Joe Biden has been reported from a slightly different angle across in Ayrshire, Scotland, where Donald Trump owns a golf club.

With the headline: 'South Ayrshire Golf club owner loses 2020 presidential election,' the Ayrshire Daily News website spins the narrative axis for their local - and now more global - audience.

The Trump Turnberry in the region could, of course, be one of those locations that the current president escapes to after leaving the White House, although the January weather in that part of the world may be a little harsh for him.

Statement by president-elect Joe Biden - it's time to unite and heal

"I am honoured and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in vice president-elect Harris.

"In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America.

"With the campaign over, it's time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.

Trump in denial after hearing news Biden will replace him while at golf club

Trump statement - This is not over

"We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media allies are trying so hard to help him: they don’t want the truth to be exposed. 

"The simple fact is this election is far from over. Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor. 

"In Pennsylvania, for example, our legal observers were not permitted meaningful access to watch the counting process.  Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.

"Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated. 

"The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. 

"It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters. Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access.

"So what is Biden hiding? I will not rest until the American People have the honest vote count they deserve and that Democracy demands."

Kamala Harris takes call from her new boss, Joe Biden

The vice-president elect says "We did it Joe, you're going to be the next president of the United States".

US Election 2020

Joe Biden wins election to become 46th President of USA

Biden's whole life led him to this historical moment

How he won the presidency and what could happen during his four year first term.

Do you hear that? 

It's the sound of over 74 million people breathing a sigh of relief. 

Cars in Washington were honking their horns in the streets this afternoon in celebration for Biden's win. The scenes are reminiscent of Barack Obama's win in 2008.

Joe Biden won Washington DC by 92.6%, Donald Trump won just 14,449 votes of almost 280,000.

Barack Obama releases congratulatory statement of unity and support

Joe Biden's former boss said:

“I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First Lady, Jill Biden,” the former president said.

“I also couldn’t be prouder to congratulate Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff for Kamala’s groundbreaking election as our next Vice President.”

Obama called for a united America, urging citizens to “do our part” to find common ground with their fellow citizens to help the country unite.

“Our democracy needs all of us more than ever,” Obama said. “And Michelle and I look forward to supporting our next President and First Lady however we can.”

A Trump rally speech that aged very badly

Comedian Trevor Noah wastes no time in digging out this gem.

In the video Donald Trump says;

"Can you imagine if I lose? My whole life, what am I gonna do? I'd be saying, I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics. I'm not gonna feel so good, maybe I'll have to leave the country, I don't know."

President Trump on another one-term president in his book

Writing in his book “The Art of the Deal”, Donald Trump writes "You can't con people, not for long...you can create excitement...wonderful promotion....throw in a little hyperbole. But if you don't deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on" Trump goes on to call Jimmy Carter, who also only served one term, "poorly qualified" for the job, that the "American people caught on pretty quickly that Carter couldn't do the job".

Sound familiar?

Trump heads back to White House from golfing; Biden celebrations await

Donald Trump has left his golf club in Virginia and is now en route back to the White House, where a large crowd has gathered to celebrate Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election.

One man wearing a Puerto Rican flag was spotted throwing a pack of paper towels over the White House fence, an allusion to Trump throwing paper towels to a crowd outside San Juan after Hurricane Maria.

Via The Guardian

AS TV live stream of celebrations for Joe Biden's win 

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States in January. Washington's District of Columbia voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to elect Biden over Donald Trump.

America's international allies congratulate Biden on his win, hopes of stronger ties

Some of the United States’ biggest and closest allies quickly congratulated Democrat Joe Biden on Saturday, recognising his presidential election victory even though Donald Trump, with whom several have had rocky relations, had yet to concede.

Germany, Canada and France, which have had strained ties with the Trump administration despite being its G7 and NATO partners, were among the first to recognise Biden’s victory, soon after major U.S. television networks declared it.

“I look forward to future cooperation with President Biden,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement on Twitter. “Our transatlantic friendship is irreplaceable if we are to master the great challenges of our time.”

Merkel’s finance minister, Olaf Scholz, went further, suggesting a Biden administration would mark a reset of trans-Atlantic ties. “Now there is a chance for a new and exciting chapter in trans-Atlantic relations,” he tweeted.

“Trump is confirmed to have lost the election. This is good news for the planet, as the global far right loses its most powerful political asset,” tweeted Spain’s far-left deputy prime minister, Pablo Iglesias.

Ireland, where Biden traces his family roots, called him the 46th U.S. President, despite Trump accusing Biden of “rushing to falsely pose as the winner.” Trump has complained of electoral fraud without providing proof.

“Ireland takes pride in Joe Biden’s election, just as we are proud of all the generations of Irish women and Irish men and their ancestors whose toil and genius have enriched the diversity that powers America,” Prime Minister Micheal Martin said in a statement.

Courtesy of Reuters

US ELECTION 2020

Van Jones brought to tears after Joe Biden wins US election

Van Jones overcome with emotion

“It's easier to be a parent this morning… to tell your kids character matters.”

The CNN political commentator has not hidden his desire to see the back of Donald Trump, and the news of this becoming reality really hit home with him...and then his words with viewers.

Hello and welcome to our live feed of unfolding events in the US, as a historic day unfolds with Joe Biden confirmed to become the 46th president of the United States