Obama Posts Heartfelt Tribute As Biden Is Named President-Elect
They were the bromantic couple that captivated the internet for eight years. Now, with President-elect Joe Biden's victory, nothing could be more fitting than a heartfelt message from the man whose side he stood by — former President Barack Obama.
Just hours after President-elect Biden was proclaimed the victor of 2020's Long Election Night, Obama tweeted a statement congratulating the victorious Biden-Harris team before acknowledging the landmark elections which had taken place, saying: "In this election, under circumstances never experienced, 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."
"We're fortunate that Joe's got what it takes to be President and already carries himself that way. 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 at peril."
Obama to Biden: 'Enjoy the moment. Then stay engaged'
The former president continued: "I know he'll do the job with the best interests of every American at heart, whether or not he had their vote. So I encourage every American to give him a chance and lend him your support. The election results at every level show that the country remains bitterly divided. It will be up to not just Joe and Kamala, but to each of us, to do our part — to reach out beyond our comfort zone, to listen to others, to lower the temperature and find some common ground from which to move forward, all of us remembering that we are one nation, under God."
Obama finished with a message of gratitude — and a call to action. "Finally, I want to thank everyone who worked, organized, and volunteered for the Biden campaign, every American who got involved in their own way, and everybody who voted for the first time. Your efforts made a difference. Enjoy the moment. Then stay engaged. I know it can be exhausting. But for this democracy to endure, it requires our active citizenship and sustained focus on the issues — not just in an election season, but all the days in between. 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."
Michelle Obama says she is 'beyond thrilled'
Former First Lady Michelle Obama was no less eloquent, tweeting a photo of Biden and Harris, with the caption: "I'm beyond thrilled that my friend @JoeBiden and our first Black and Indian-American woman Vice President, @KamalaHarris, are headed to restore some dignity, competence, and heart at the White House. Our country sorely needs it."
She continued: "We've got to promise each other that our focus in this election won't be an anomaly, but the rule. That's how we can not only feel this way right now, but in the months and years ahead. It's the only way we'll build a nation worthy of our children. My warmest congratulations again to Joe and Jill, Kamala and Doug — and each of you who stepped up when your country needed you."