Concede or fight? What Trump's lawyers, family, and allies are telling him to do after losing to Biden

The issue of whether to concede has divided Trump's inner circle, with some advising him to accept loss with dignity.

President Donald Trump's refusal to accept that he lost the presidential election is dividing Trumpworld figures, who are fighting to either encourage him to concede, or to keep disputing the result. 

Biden announces coronavirus team as US cases soar

US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday named the scientists who will lead his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic, signaling his plans to prioritize Covid-19 from the outset.

The advisory board will be led by three co-chairs: epidemiologist and former Federal Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner David Kessler, former surgeon general Vivek Murthy, and Yale public health professor Marcella Nunez-Smith, according to a statement from the Biden transition team.

In addition, the board will have ten members, ranging from immunologists and epidemiologists to biodefense experts and leading public health officials.

The announcement came before US company Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech announced Monday that a vaccine they had jointly developed had so far proven 90 percent effective in preventing infections in ongoing Phase 3 trials - news that cheered scientists, politicians and markets.

Covid-19 has left more than 237 000 people dead in the US  - the worst death toll globally - and is surging across the country, which last week voted out Donald Trump in a nailbiting poll.

- AFP

EXPLAINER | How and when will Trump leave office?

The US presidential election is not formally over. Electors - party loyalists who typically pledge to support the candidate who gets the most votes in their state - will convene on 14 December to formally cast their votes. The newly seated Congress accepts the results from the Electoral College on 6 January. If Biden wins the Electoral College vote, as expected, he will be sworn in at noon on 20 January — a date set in the Constitution.

Estonian interior minister to resign after calling Biden corrupt

Estonia's interior minister Mart Helme said on Monday he would resign after he called US President-elect Joe Biden and his son corrupt in a radio broadcast over the weekend.

Helme is a member of the populist, far-right Ekre party, which sits in a coalition with the Centre and Fatherland parties under Prime Minister Juri Ratas.

Estonia, a NATO and European Union member, relies on backing from the United States for its security from Russia.

Biden to launch Covid-19 task force, Trump plans rallies to protest election

President-elect Joe Biden will convene a coronavirus task force on Monday to examine the No. 1 problem confronting him when he takes office in January, while President Donald Trump pursues several long-shot gambits to hold on to his job.

Biden is due to meet with an advisory board co-chaired by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler and Yale University Associate Professor Marcella Nunez-Smith to examine how best to tame a pandemic that has killed more than 237 000 Americans.

The Democratic former vice president will then give remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, about his plans for tackling Covid-19 and rebuilding the economy.

"Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is one of the most important battles our administration will face, and I will be informed by science and by experts," Biden said in a statement on Monday.

Trump has frequently clashed with top health officials over the pandemic. Vice President Mike Pence is due to meet with the White House coronavirus task force on Monday for the first time since 20 October.

Trump has not acknowledged defeat and has launched an array of lawsuits to press claims of election fraud for which he has produced no evidence. State officials say they are not aware of any significant irregularities.

Trump has no public events scheduled for Monday, and has not spoken in public since Thursday. He plans to hold rallies to build support for his challenge to the election results, campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said.

Biden's advisers are moving ahead and considering candidates for top Cabinet posts. But the transition cannot shift into high gear until the U.S. General Services Administration, which oversees federal property, certifies the winner.

- Reuters

EU to 'intensify cooperation' with new US government, von der Leyen says

In a video statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the US and EU were "friends and allies" and said the election was a "moment of significance".

Meet the family of Joe Biden, president-elect of the United States

He'll bring with him Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and be tasked with appointing aides and members to fill his cabinet. But he'll also bring with him the first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, his three children, and his seven grandchildren.

Trump will lose special Twitter protections in January

US President Donald Trump will be subject to the same Twitter Inc rules as any other user when President-elect Joe Biden takes office on 20 January, the social media company confirmed this week.

Twitter places "public interest" notices on some rule-breaking tweets from "world leaders" that would otherwise be removed. Such tweets from political candidates and elected or government officials are instead hidden by a warning and Twitter takes actions to restrict their reach.

Americans dance near White House to celebrate Biden's victory 

Americans dance at Black Lives Matter plaza near the White House to celebrate Joe Biden's victory in the US presidential election.

After Joe Biden wins US presidential election, what happens next?

There are still several steps in the electoral process before President Donald Trump’s presidency ends and Biden takes office.

This includes the House and Senate holding a joint session to count the votes sent by electors across the country early in the new year.

Here are the key dates leading up Biden becoming the 46th president of the US.

OPINION | Americans should brace themselves for the most dangerous 73 days of Trump's presidency

Trump's political invincibility is shattered, and with it, his presidential immunity to criminal probes. He's got nothing left to lose, so expect him to break stuff on his way out of the White House, writes Anthony L. Fisher for Business Insider.

Biden, pledging unity, begins transition as Trump refuses to concede

US President-elect Joe Biden took the first steps on Sunday towards taking over the White House 73 days from now but Donald Trump showed no signs of being ready to admit defeat and continued to sow doubt about the election results.

As congratulations poured in from world leaders and supporters nursed hangovers after a day of raucous celebrations, Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris launched a transition website, BuildBackBetter.com, and a Twitter feed, @Transition46.

While Trump is refusing to concede Tuesday's election and most Republican lawmakers are adopting a studied silence, former president George W. Bush said the "outcome is clear."

Trump plans to share obituaries of dead people who he says voted

US president Donald Trump plans to share obituaries of dead people who he says voted, sources reportedly told Axios. 

The president and his allies have continued to make unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud, after major news networks called the election for President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday.

Axios reporter Alayna Treene said four of the president's advisors told her of the plan to share obituaries in a phone call Sunday, and that the president plans to hold campaign-style rallies as he continues to challenge the results of the election.

EXPLAINER | Can Trump pardon his associates, or himself, in his final days?

US President Donald Trump could issue a flurry of pardons during his final days in power.

Trump has granted clemency to supporters before, most notably earlier this year when he commuted the criminal sentence of Roger Stone, who was sentenced to prison after being convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers.

In 2018, Trump even said he had the "absolute right" to pardon himself - a claim many constitutional law scholars dispute.

Here is an overview of Trump's pardon power, which is sweeping but not absolute.

ANALYSIS | Implications of Joe Biden's win for Africa

Bob Wekesa argues that the focus on America-Africa relations is often more heavily focused from the Americans. He writes that it is time for African organisations to start developing policies in relation to the US.

Biden win forces Mexico to rebuild complicated US ties

After years of close ties with Donald Trump, Mexico must now reshape its complex relations with the United States under Joe Biden, including on the key issues of trade and immigration.

The country's awkward position was underscored by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's reluctance on Saturday to congratulate Biden while Trump is still mounting a slew of legal challenges.

The left-wing populist said he would wait for "all legal issues" in the US presidential election to be resolved.

"We don't want to be imprudent. We don't want to act lightly," Lopez Obrador told a news conference.

"We have a very good relationship with the two candidates," he added, as messages of congratulations for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris poured in from other world leaders.

- AFP

Nelson Mandela Foundation celebrates Biden victory

The foundation of former president Nelson Mandela has expressed a "sense of relief" at the victory of president-elect Joe Biden, saying they "celebrate" the end of the Donald Trump era.

"Like many around the world, we celebrate the fact that we won't have to watch him [Trump] undermining democratic institutions and listen to him bringing the most powerful office in the world into disrepute for another four years.

"Now begins the daunting task for the US of undoing the Trump administration's deepening of racism, sexism, xenophobia, Afrophobia and many other intersecting vectors of prejudice and hatred," the foundation said in a statement.

The Mandela Foundation was looking forward to seeing the White House occupied by a leadership team "which understands the central importance of human dignity".

The foundation quotes Mandela who said a good leader knows when to step down. "It's not too late for Trump to embrace dignity, for himself and for others."

Build Back Better plan launched

Launching their Build Back Better transition plan on Sunday, US president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris announced their four focus areas to "build back better than ever".

1. Covid-19

Biden-Harris has a seven-point plan to push back rapid infections of Covid-19 in the United States, that is underpinned by a commitment to "listen to science". This is a far cry from President Donald Trump's denialist approach.

Under Biden, Americans will have access to free Covid-19 testing and governors will be encouraged to make mask-wearing mandatory.

They will plan for the "effective, equitable distribution of treatments and vaccines".

2. Economic recovery

Biden-Harris has promised to "rebuild the middle class – and this time make sure everyone comes along".

Acknowledging inequalities in the economy, based on race, Biden says he will build a new American economy "for our families and the next generation".

The focus will be on local manufacturing and innovation, investing in clean energy, building a caregiving and education workforce and closing the racial wealth gap.

3. Racial equality

"The moment has come for our nation to deal with systemic racism," reads the introduction to this policy.

Biden puts economic growth in black and brown communities at the core of this programme. He acknowledges that the Covid-19 economic crisis has hit black and brown communities especially hard and will champion economic development for black and brown families, including equalising federal procurement.

Police reform initiatives include a nationwide ban on chokeholds and a ban on the transfer of weapons of war to police forces.

4. Climate change

Biden will immediately return the United States to the Paris Agreement on climate change, but "will go much further than that".

He acknowledges that climate change poses an existential threat to the country's environment, health, communities and national security.

He will use the post-Covid-19 economic crisis to build a "resilient, sustainable economy" that will put the US on the path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

FACTBOX | Trump sues in Arizona, court battles continue as Joe Biden wins US election

US President Donald Trump's campaign said on Saturday it had filed a lawsuit in Arizona, its latest legal challenge over the results of the presidential election.

Biden win a setback for Israel's Netanyahu, hope for Palestinians

Joe Biden's US election win marks a setback for Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump - but it could spur renewed engagement between Washington and the Palestinians, experts said.

Netanyahu called Trump Israel's strongest-ever ally in the White House, and the Republican advanced policies that delighted the Israeli prime minister's right-wing base.

Netanyahu congratulated Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris on Twitter on Sunday, before thanking Trump for a raft of moves that, according to Netanyahu, advanced Israel's interests.

Trump unilaterally pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal - an agreement between Tehran and world powers loathed by Netanyahu - and recognised Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital.

He also endorsed Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights - which was seized from Syria - and avoided criticising Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

According to a pre-vote poll by the Israel Democracy Institute think-tank, 63% of Israelis wanted Trump to win a second term.

- AFP

Kamala Harris victory: she braved the pains of being a black woman on a planet that won't accept you

Born to an Indian mother and Jamaican father, Kamala Harris has changed the course of history and flung open the door for other women to follow.

FACTBOX | Global leaders react to Joe Biden's US presidential election win

Democrat Joe Biden captured the US presidency on Saturday as voters narrowly rebuffed Republican incumbent Donald Trump's tumultuous leadership and embraced Biden's promise to fight the coronavirus pandemic and fix the economy in a divided nation.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend celebrate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris victory

Chrissy Teigen has spoken out against Donald Trump in the past, and she was overjoyed when it was revealed that Joe Biden had won the presidential election.

9 things Joe Biden plans to do to get the US coronavirus outbreak under control

During his campaign, US President-elect Joe Biden accused current President Donald Trump of having no plan to guide the US out of the pandemic. Biden put forward his own coronavirus plan on March 12 — the day after Trump said the virus posed a "very low" risk to Americans — and has consistently called for more widespread testing and mask requirements.

Many experts expect the current surge in cases to be America's largest, and perhaps deadliest, yet. The US's daily case counts surpassed 100,000 for the last three days in a row. 

Biden's victory could soon spell trouble for 'mini-Trump' Boris Johnson

As US President-elect Joe Biden prepares to enter the White House in January, concerns have been growing in the UK about what his election will mean for relations between the US and the man American President Donald Trump once labelled "Britain Trump."

INSIGHT | 'I just couldn't be silent': How American women decided the 2020 presidential race

Women appear to have been crucial in delivering the US presidency to Joe Biden.

They were at the forefront of the highest US voter turnout in at least a century, casting ballots at higher rates than men. And more than half of female voters - 56% - chose the former vice president compared to 48% of men, according to exit polls from the Edison Research firm.

What Biden promised for his first day in the White House – including change on climate

US President-elect Joe Biden's campaign promises will confront political reality on January 20. On the campaign trail, Biden laid out a long list of promises he said he'll get done on "day one" of his administration.

Among them, he pledged to put a Covid action plan in place, sign a series of executive orders, re-enter the Paris climate change accord, and send a big immigration bill to the US Congress. That's a ton to do on a single day— and that's not even everything he promised. Even his supporters say he's unlikely to get to everything on day one. 

ANALYSIS | Trumpism will outlast Trump, who defied the odds, grew the base

As he closed his campaign with a series of boisterous rallies, President Donald Trump told his cheering crowds they would prove all the experts wrong again - just as they had when he improbably won the US presidency in 2016.

"A great red wave is coming," Trump said at a rally on 31 October in Pennsylvania, predicting a surge of Republican support would carry him to re-election. "There's not a thing they can do about it."

Trump lost the White House, according to media outlets that called the tight race on Saturday morning for his Democratic opponent Joe Biden, the former vice president. And yet Trump clearly outperformed scores of polls that suggested he might lose in a landslide and proved his base of supporters was bigger and more loyal than many observers realised.

Bubbly mood: Washington scrambles for champagne after Biden win

Joe Biden's election as US president on Saturday sparked a scramble for champagne in the capital Washington and some stores were already close to running out of stock in the Democratic stronghold.

It seemed many were ready to toast an end to a tumultuous four years under President Donald Trump. Calvert and Woodley, known for its selection of wines from around the world, sold up to 75 percent more bottles than a usual Saturday, according to store employees.

Store salesman Mark, who did not provide his last name, said hundreds of bottles had been sold.

"People want to celebrate," he said.

His colleague Janis said "I bought 20 for myself."

Dressed in a Biden-Harris t-shirt and with a Biden-Harris sign in her hand, Juanita was one of the many customers in search of the bubbly.

"I'm so happy. It's an amazing day for democracy," she said while choosing a bottle.

At Magruder's, a wine shop in the residential district of Chevy Chase in business since 1845, the shelves were emptied quickly and employees had to fetch reserve cases of champagne.

"People buy two or three bottles. It's very unusual," said a cashier. "People are so happy today."

And they were obviously not concerned with the price. Bottles of champagne typically sell for around $40 dollars (R623) to start.

- AFP

Can Donald Trump challenge the US election verdict?

Minutes after US media declared Democrat Joe Biden victor in the tight race for the US presidency on Saturday, President Donald Trump rejected that conclusion, saying he will prove in court that he was the winner.

"The simple fact is this election is far from over," Trump said in a statement.

"Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media."

But experts say Trump has little chance of reversing Biden's win, without having provided the evidence of widespread vote fraud needed to overturn results in several 

What next for Trump? Golf, Twitter and maybe another run?

When networks projected he had lost his bid for re-election to Joe Biden, President Donald Trump was playing golf. He'll soon have plenty more time to enjoy the links if he so desires.

But if there's one constant for Trump, it is his love of the limelight and few expect this most unusual of presidents to pursue a traditional post-White House life of public reticence, reflective memoir-writing and occasional charitable events. Some allies have already spoken of Trump planning a rematch in 2024. 

Trump campaign files lawsuit over rejected vote claims in Arizona

Republican President Donald Trump's campaign said Saturday it had filed suit in Arizona, alleging the Southwestern state's most populous county incorrectly rejected votes cast by some voters in the US presidential race on Election Day.

The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Maricopa County, said poll workers told some voters to press a button after a machine had detected an "overvote."

The campaign contended that decision disregarded voters' choices in those races, saying new voting machines were used on Tuesday. The lawsuit suggested those votes could prove "determinative" in the state's outcome.

The Maricopa County Elections Department and a spokesman for the projected winner, Democrat Joe Biden, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

- Reuters

Photos show Americans taking to the streets in celebration of Joe Biden's victory

On Saturday, all major news outlets in the USA the AP, including Fox News, concurred that Joe Biden is the President-elect of the United States of America.

Immediately following the news, people in cities around America — from Atlanta to New York City and DC — flooded the streets, cheered from their balconies, embraced loved ones, and sang patriotic songs.

The wait is finally over: After four days of anxiously waiting to hear who the next US President will be, the win was called in favour of Joe Biden and his running partner Kamala Harris. Here is a list of some of our top stories to read:

Biden turns the page on Trump's most divisive of presidencies

President-elect Joe Biden who has cast himself as healer-in-chief inherits a nation both traumatised and spellbound by his White House predecessor Donald Trump.

He has channeled personal tragedy into a heart-on-his-sleeve compassion for everyday Americans, but President-elect Joe Biden faces the challenge of a lifetime as he inherits a nation both traumatized and spellbound by his White House predecessor.https://t.co/AxhKNDE7wF

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Kamala Harris: America's first woman vice president

By winning the vice presidency, Kamala Harris will be a heartbeat away from leading the United States and poised on a stepping stone to the ultimate prize.

Kamala Harris crashed through one of the world's highest glass ceilings on Saturday to be elected America's first woman vice president, making history and helping bring to an end Donald Trump's turbulent rule.https://t.co/WN42iaRhOJ

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Jill Biden: A chance to transform the role of first lady

Jill Biden is no stranger to the glare of the political spotlight. Her husband has been a Washington insider since they wed in 1977, and she was America's second lady for eight years.

He will be a President for all of our families. pic.twitter.com/iGPKLMMIcK

— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) November 7, 2020

Donald Trump rose to power proposing a simple solution to the United States' deepest problems: himself.

https://t.co/By0KBr5HQV | Donald Trump: the wrecking ball who came to 'fix' America https://t.co/xG3Zk8Mypy

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Chinese state media laughed at Trump after he falsely claimed US election victory

Chinese state media on Saturday laughed at US President Donald Trump after he falsely claimed he had won the US presidential election. "HaHa," tweeted the People's Daily, the state-owned and largest newspaper in China, attaching two laughing emoji.

HaHa?? https://t.co/hQcTFrxaRn

— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) November 7, 2020

From Lizzo to Viola Davis and more, celebrities celebrate with Biden and Harris

A wave of celebrations from A-list stars as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win 2020 US election https://t.co/xmshNJghh4 pic.twitter.com/K7Vz7rwmBl

— Channel24 (@Channel24) November 7, 2020

'Overjoyed' - Biden family, supporters celebrate at election HQ

Hundreds of Joe Biden supporters cheered and sounded car horns as they and members of the president-elect's family gathered at his election headquarters in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday ahead of a victory party.

Scores of Democrats descended on the Chase Center, where the next president of the United States will lead celebrations later.

Inside the adjacent Westin Hotel, Biden's family and campaign team expressed their delight at Biden rendering Donald Trump a one-term president.

"I'm overjoyed," Biden's younger brother Jim Biden told AFP.

A great day for America

Campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said she had been on a run when her mother called to tell her that CNN had called the election for Biden.

"Ecstatic - a great day for this county," she told reporters, after walking through the hotel's lobby in a white Biden t-shirt.

Shortly before the long-awaited announcement, Biden's sister Valerie Biden Owens described the result as "wonderful."

"It's a wonderful thing for us but it's a better thing for America," she told reporters.

Symone Sanders, a senior advisor to Biden, said his team were "elated and excited".

"This is a win, frankly, for America," she told reporters.

Balloons, American flags and Biden-Harris placards

Outside the venue's perimeter fence, Biden fans waved balloons, American flags and held up Biden-Harris placards. They shared food and drink as they waited in hopes of catching a glimpse of Biden later.

The president-elect is due to take to the stage in the center's parking lot around 03:00 South African time.

Several hundred cars full of supporters are expected to attend the drive-in rally for an election victory party that will be unlike any other due to social distancing restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Fireworks and music are expected. Biden will be joined by his wife Jill, America's next vice president Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff.

A little over a mile away, in downtown Wilmington, locals expressed an outpouring of joy at the sleepy city's favorite son ascending to the highest office in the country.

"I'm happy, I wanted Trump out," said 31-year-old Kristina Moncada.

World leaders congratulate Biden and Harris on election win

Democrat Joe Biden captured the US presidency on Saturday, several major television networks said, as voters narrowly rebuffed Republican incumbent Donald Trump's tumultuous leadership and embraced Biden's promise to fight the coronavirus pandemic and fix the economy in a divided nation.

As crowds poured onto the streets of Washington and other cities in exuberant celebration and former US president Barack Obama hailed Biden's win as "decisive" and "historic", here are some of the first reactions from political figures across the globe:

South Africa calls for deepening bonds of friendship and cooperation

We congratulate President-Elect @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris and the American people on your election. We look forward to working with you and deepening our bonds of friendship and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/aajOxmL8KI

— Cyril Ramaphosa ???? #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) November 7, 2020

UK congratulates Biden and Harris, vows climate action

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated Joe Biden "on his election" as US president and Biden's running mate Kamala Harris "on her historic achievement".

"The US is our most important ally and I look forward to working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security," Johnson tweeted, after US networks called the race for Biden over President Donald Trump.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "President Trump fought hard in what proved a close contest."

He anticipated working with the Biden administration on issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, as Britain prepares to take over the G7 presidency next year and to host the UN's next global climate policy gathering, COP 26.

Biden has vowed to rejoin the UN's Paris Agreement on climate change after Trump abandoned it.

France's Macron congratulates Biden, ready to 'work together'

"We have a lot to do to overcome today's challenges. Let's work together!," French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted after major US media networks announced Biden's victory over incumbent Donald Trump.

Germany's Merkel congratulates Biden, Harris

"I look forward to future cooperation with President Biden," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement posted on Twitter. "Our transatlantic friendship is irreplaceable if we are to master the great challenges of our time."

Merkel, the first female leader of Germany, stressed that Harris would be her country's first elected female Vice-President.

Canada PM Trudeau congratulates Joe Biden on White House win

"I look forward to working with President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect (Kamala) Harris, their administration, and the United States Congress as we tackle the world's greatest challenges together," Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.

Trudeau has had a frequently stormy relationship with Trump, who once tweeted the Canadian leader was "very dishonest & weak" over a dispute on US tariffs.

The United States is Canada's largest trading partner, with US$1.8 billion flowing across the border each day.

Spain's Prime Minister Sanchez congratulates Joe Biden on Twitter

"The American people have chosen the 46th President of the United States. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. We wish you good luck and all the best. We are looking forward to cooperating with you to tackle the challenges ahead of us," Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin

"I offer warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as the 46th President of the United States. Ireland takes pride in Joe Biden's election, just as we are proud of all the generations of Irish women and Irish men and their ancestors whose toil and genius have enriched the diversity that powers America."

"Joe Biden has always been a stalwart friend and supporter of Ireland, including of the prosperity, stability and opportunity made possible by the Good Friday Agreement, to which he has pledged his ongoing steadfast support."

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

"Congratulations to US President-Elect @JoeBiden. Joe Biden has been a true friend of Greece and I'm certain that under his presidency the relationship between our countries will grow even stronger."

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo tweeted: "Congratulations @JoeBiden with your election as 46th President of the United States. A record number of people have cast their vote in this election. This illustrates the vibrancy of the American political life and its democracy."

EU chiefs congratulate Biden, urge closer US ties

European Union leaders Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen hailed Joe Biden's election as president of the United States and called for stronger trans-Atlantic ties.

"We take note of the latest development in the electoral process," said Michel, president of the European Council, which represents the leaders of EU member states.

"On this basis the EU congratulates President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on reaching enough Electoral Votes."

- AFP and Reuters

Former US president Barack Obama says he could not be prouder to congratulate Joe Biden and Kamila Harris on their victory.

"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 wukk have won a historic and decisive vitory," he said in a statement.

“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 in peril,” he continued.

Congratulations to my friends, @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris — our next President and Vice President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/febgqxUi1y

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 7, 2020

Where is Trump?

US President Donald Trump was seen golfing at his golf club in Virginia, as major news outlets called the election for his opponent, the former Vice President Joe Biden.

Trump seen golfing as major US networks declare victory for Biden | @BISouthAfrica https://t.co/OtDjXCFx7t pic.twitter.com/zEGx4F8eQD

— News24 (@News24) November 7, 2020

Trump's campaign issued a statement vowing that its legal fight is not over, and insisting Biden had not won.

"The simple fact is this election is far from over," the statement read in part. "Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor."