TRANSCRIPT
United States President Joe Biden is calling for calm following Donald Trump's election victory.
In his first public address following the election, he reassured Democrats concerned by Mr Trump's return to the White House, urging them not to give up on America.
"Look, folks, you all know it in your lives, setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable. Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable. We all get knocked down. But the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up. Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up."
Mr Biden calling for unity among all Americans, praising the integrity of the U-S electoral system.
"Something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, is see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans. Bring down the temperature. I also hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent. And it can be trusted. Win or lose."
He pledged a smooth transfer of power, while at the same time indirectly criticising the former president who had challenged the 2020 results and made unfounded fraud claims this year.
"For over 200 years, America has carried out the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world. That's not hyperbole. That's a fact. We the people. The people vote and choose their own leaders and they do it peacefully. And we're in a democracy, the will of the people always prevails. Yesterday, I spoke with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory, and I assured him that I directed my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition."
Mr Trump will begin the process of choosing a cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration officials in the coming weeks.
He has already made his first high-profile appointment, appointing his election campaign manager, Susie Wiles, as chief of staff to manage his office.
Mr Trump says it is the first time a woman has been appointed to the post.
The President-elect is considering other high-level appointments to his cabinet.
Former US government official Kevin Kellems says there's a wide range of people who Mr Trump can choose from.
"In Trump's orbit there really are really a number of establishment, more mainstream and very experienced foreign policy and national security hands as well as some new stars. Mike Waltz as a potential Secretary of Defence, Congressman, would be a terrific choice. You also have people like Mike Pompeo, both of whom I think would be confirmed by the Senate, who I think appreciate the role of NATO, and the US's leadership role in the world."
Speculation is mounting that a Trump cabinet could include U-S politician Robert Kennedy junior and billionaire businessman Elon Musk.
Mr Kellems says it will be a competitive race.
"I do not think either Elon Musk or [[Robert]] Kennedy will be in cabinet posts. They are both probably eager to have a title that they find useful, but I think they will be more outside advisers who try to inflate their day-to-day influence. Sometimes an outside voice that is strong and loud and persistent can have an influence inside a government in a way that was less the case in the past."
Meanwhile, Trump supporters who were charged with federal crimes and received jail sentences for storming the Capitol on the 6th of January four years ago are celebrating Mr Trump's victory, hoping he will pardon them.
More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent politicians running into hiding as they met to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 victory.
More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanour trespassing offences, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.
In August of this year during his campaign, Mr Trump hinted that he would overturn their convictions.
"I think the people that if you look at January 6th, which a lot of people aren't talking about very much, I think those people were treated very harshly when you compare them to other things that took place in this country where a lot of people were killed - nobody was killed on January 6th."
But Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer Michael Fanone testified that the rioters were out for blood and had the intention to kill.
"At one point, I came face to face with an attacker who repeatedly lunged for me and attempted to remove my firearm. I heard chanting from some in the crowd, 'get his gun and kill him with his own gun'."
This comes as Mr Trump’s former attorney appeared in a New York City court to explain why he has not surrendered assets for a ((AU)) $217 million defamation judgement.
U-S District Judge Lewis Liman had set an October 29 deadline for Rudy Giuliani [[joo-lee-ah-nee]] to hand over the items to former Georgia election officials Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whom he defamed with false claims about the 2020 election.
At a hearing, Judge Liman extended the deadline to next week and Rudy Giuliani is protesting but says he will comply.
"I'm going to turn over what I'm supposed to turn over when they figure out what that is. This is a this is not a...there's never been a trial. I never had a trial. I owe US$145 million without ever having a trial. ... This case is obviously a political vendetta. Just the mere fact that it's $145 million judgement, I'm very, very disappointed that this judge doesn't take seriously how ridiculous the judgement is."
