Bye Don!

All major U.S. networks, on Saturday, 7 November 2020, project a Joe Biden presidency after picking up a win in Pennsylvania. Kamala Harris becomes the first female Vice President of the United States.

Further, noting how recent history has unfolded, the Biden/Harris victory marks the first time since 1992 that the incumbent president's challenger has won the election.

President Donald J Trump, when the Biden/Harris victory was announced, was playing golf. There has been suggestion made on BBC News that Trump will now have more time for the links and greens of his Floridian golf course.

Trump, considering the amount of time he spends playing golf, never allowed his presidency to distract him from his seemingly favourite sport.

Biden understands he, not just for the people that voted for him, is the president of the United States.

Several world leaders, inclusive of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, congratulated Biden and Harris via Twitter:

"Congratulations, @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Our two countries are close friends, partners, and allies," Trudeau tweeted. "We share a relationship that’s unique on the world stage. I’m really looking forward to working together and building on that with you both."

Johnson’s tweet, reflecting comments made by his Canadian counterpart, denotes a hopeful degree of international cooperation.

Johnson wasn’t the only British politician to express congratulatory thoughts. Biden and Harris' win clearly means a “time to get back to building bridges, not walls,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan said, in an obvious dig at President Trump's US-Mexico border wall policy.

“Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on your well-deserved win,” Khan tweeted. “London looks forward to working with you — it's time to get back to building bridges, not walls.”

Despite the international attention the Biden/Harris victory has garnered, noting various responses from right-wing Americans, it looks like the battle for the White House is far from over. The anger in Trump’s most recent tweets is readily apparent:

“THE OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE COUNTING ROOMS. I WON THE ELECTION, GOT 71,000,000 LEGAL VOTES,” Trump tweeted in all caps. “BAD THINGS HAPPENED WHICH OUR OBSERVERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE. NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE SENT TO PEOPLE WHO NEVER ASKED FOR THEM!"

The well-established concession speech convention, one which many disappointed presidential candidates have respectfully honoured, is unlikely something Trump will undertake. The end, not one which Trump or his supporters want, is part of the journey.

Whilst it is merely a convention, a speech not constitutionally required, the concession speech has become a significant part of the American Presidential Election.

There are people on all sides of the political spectrum, if Trump decides to not deliver a concession speech, that will find the disrespect unforgivable.

Curiously, noting Donald J Trump Jr’s Twitter feed, the lame duck president’s son possibly points to encouraging violence.

“70 million pissed off republicans, Trump Jr tweeted, “and not one city burned to the ground.”

Even though comments made indicate the transition will not be smooth, more recently, the White House put out a statement stating Trump will respect the results of the election.

“The president will accept the results of a free and fair election.” BBC senior North America reporter Anthony Zurcher read. “The Trump Administration is following all statutory requirements.”

The Biden Administration, recognising the Republicans managed to hold onto the United States Senate, might see an uphill battle to get anything accomplished.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), with approximately 1,232,410 votes, held onto his senatorial seat. Republican United States Senate senators, in states inclusive of Maine and South Carolina, retain their respective seats. Georgia is expected to schedule a runoff election.