Biden tears into Trump for refusing to concede after Electoral College vote

On Monday, the Electoral College officially certified President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Biden won with 306 electoral college votes to President Trump's 232. After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell finally conceded and congratulated Joe Biden on winning the presidential election.

However, President Trump is yet to concede the election. Asked about the result, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president was still involved in ongoing litigation related to the election.

Speaking near his home in Delaware, Biden ripped into Trump for refusing to acknowledge his defeat. Biden noted that he and Vice President-elect won more votes than any previous presidential ticket, calling the victory the “clearest demonstration of the will of the American people.”

“Respecting the will of the people is at the heart of our democracy even when we find those results hard to accept,” Biden said. “But that’s the obligation of those who have taken on a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution.”

“In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed ... faith in our institutions held and the integrity of our elections remained intact,” he continued. “And now it’s time to turn the page as we’ve done throughout our history, to unite and to heal.”

Biden added that democratic institutions had “proved to be resilient and strong” despite having been “pushed, tested and threatened” by Trump. 

“They could not and would not give credence to what they know is not true,” he said. “They knew this election was overseen, it was honest, it was free and it was fair. They saw it with their own eyes, and they wouldn’t be bullied into saying anything different.”

“They were subject to political pressure, verbal abuse, and even threats of physical violence,” Biden added. “It’s simply unconscionable.”

“The Trump campaign brought dozens of legal challenges to test the result,” Biden said. “They were heard, again and again, and each of the time they were heard, they were found to be without merit.”

“Thankfully, a unanimous Supreme Court immediately and completely rejected this effort, sending a clear signal to the president that they’d be no part in an unprecedented assault on our democracy,” Biden concluded.

Biden concluded by stressing the need to “unite” and “heal” at a time of deep division.

“There is urgent work in front of all of us,” he said. “Getting the pandemic under control to getting the nation vaccinated against this virus, delivering immediate economic help so badly needed by so many Americans who are hurting today.”