President Biden addressed the nation from the White House on Thursday, a day after Vice President Kamala Harris conceded defeat in the race against Donald Trump.

This was the first time Biden has spoken publicly since the 2024 election was called for Trump, although he did issue a statement praising Harris as “a great partner and public servant full of integrity, courage and character.”

From the Rose Garden, Biden told reporters: “We accept the choice the country has made.”

“I have often said: You cannot love your country only when you win; you can’t love your neighbor unless you agree,” he said, reiterating that he will oversee a peaceful transfer of power from his administration to Trump’s.

Commenting on the election results and the voting process, Biden said: “It is fair, honest and transparent, and it can be relied on – win or lose.”

Harris “has great character, real character,” Biden said of his vice president of four years. “She and her entire team can be proud of the campaign they have run.”

Both Biden and Harris called Trump on Wednesday afternoon to congratulate him. Biden also invited Trump to the White House to start transition preparations, although an exact date was unclear.

Biden told Democrats that “the America of your dreams calls you to rise again – that’s the story of America for 240 years and counting. It is the story for all of us, not just some of us. The American spirit endures.”

“Together we have changed America for the better,” Biden said of his presidency. “Now we have 74 days to complete the term, our term. Let’s make every day count.”

The Associated Press called the presidential race around 5:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday after Trump won 276 electoral votes to Harris’ 223, although Trump declared victory at 2:30 a.m. ET during a speech to supporters at an election party in Florida.

“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” Harris told supporters at Howard University, her alma mater, on Wednesday. “But hear me when I say: The light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”

In the Rose Garden, Biden echoed the sentiment: “Setbacks are inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.”

In his statement on Wednesday, Biden also highlighted how Harris launched her presidential campaign under “extraordinary circumstances” after dropping out 107 days before the election under pressure from the Democratic Party following his debate performance in June.

Harris clinched the Democratic nomination in two weeks but had about 100 days to convince voters compared to Trump, who announced his intention to run in November 2022 and clinched the Republican nomination in mid-March.