On Sunday afternoon, after being named President-elect of the United States of America, Joe Biden received an unexpected call from former president George W. Bush. The only living former Republican president reached out to Biden to congratulate him and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their victory in a 2020 race that was “fundamentally fair” and “its outcome is clear.”
In a statement, Bush reflected on his conversation with the 46th President.
“Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country,” Bush said. “The President-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat, he will govern for all Americans. I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can.”
Bush also delivered a congratulations speech to Donald Trump “on a hard-fought campaign” that saw an “extraordinary political achievement” of gaining the votes of over 70 million Americans, second-most in history behind Biden.
“They have spoken, and their voices will continue to be heard through elected Republicans at every level of government,” Bush said.
In a way, Bush relates to Trump’s current desire to legally challenge vote counts in multiple key states that lead to Biden’s triumph. In 2000, Bush was elected president over Democratic then-Vice President Al Gore by a smaller margin than Biden. The election came down to 537 votes in Florida and a Supreme Court decision in December for Bush to be rewarded victorious.
While Bush agrees with other Republicans who believe that Trump “has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges,” he says that Biden’s victory was clear.
“The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear,” Bush said.
Trump, the soon-to-be-former president, is currently refusing to concede the election, citing voter fraud and a host of unproven claims that led to his defeat. His attorneys have begun the process of filing lawsuits in several states, thus far without much success.
“The challenges that face our country will demand the best of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris — and the best of us all,” Bush said. “We must come together for the sake of our families and neighbors, and for our nation and its future. There is no problem that will not yield to the gathered will of a free people. Laura and I pray for our leaders and their families. We ask for God’s continued blessings on our country. And we urge all Americans to join us in wishing our next President and Vice President well as they prepare to take up their important duties.”
