
Joe Biden is officially the president-elect of the United States (opens in new tab), with Kamala Harris (opens in new tab) set to step into the role of Vice President (opens in new tab). Former President Barack Obama released a statement on Twitter celebrating the news, and congratulating Biden and Harris (opens in new tab).
"Congratulations to my friends, @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris — our next President and Vice President of the United States," he tweeted. Obama wrote in his statement, "I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First Lady, Jill Biden." He continued, "I also couldn't be prouder to congratulate Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff (opens in new tab) for Kamala's groundbreaking election as our next Vice President."
"In this election, under circumstances never experienced," he wrote, "Americans turned out in numbers never seen. And once every vote is counted, President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris will have won a historic and decisive victory."
Obama also praised Biden's fortitude: "Because when he walks into the White House in January, he'll face a series of extraordinary challenges no incoming President ever has — a raging pandemic, an unequal economy and justice system, a democracy at risk, and a climate in peril."
Congratulations to my friends, @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris — our next President and Vice President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/febgqxUi1yNovember 7, 2020
Obama also urged everyone, whether they voted for Biden or not, to support the new President. "So I encourage every American to give him a chance and lend him your support. The election results at every level show that our country remains deeply and bitterly divided."
Finally, Obama signed off with a note of encouragement: "Our democracy needs all of us more than ever. And Michelle and I look forward to supporting our next President and First Lady however we can."
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Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.
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