President Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress maintain that it is still too early to declare a winner in the 2020 presidential election.
But, President-elect Joe Biden (D) says that does not mean that his team will wait to start the transition process.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Biden was asked, “How do you expect to work with Republicans if they won’t even acknowledge you as president-elect?”
“They will,” Biden responded with a smile, adding, “They will.”
Watch the video below:
Reporter: "How do you expect to work with Republicans if they won't even acknowledge you as president-elect?"
— The Recount (@therecount) November 10, 2020
Biden, smiling: "They will." pic.twitter.com/qGb6sqfuxu
News outlets called the race for Biden on Saturday, as IJR reported. However, Trump put out a statement claiming the election is “far from over” and has not conceded the race.
Instead, his reelection campaign has filed a flurry of legal challenges to contest the results in several states.
Biden also addressed Trump’s refusal to concede, “I just think it’s an embarrassment, quite frankly … It will not help the President’s legacy.”
“I think that, I know from my discussions with foreign leaders thus far, that they are hopeful that the United States democratic institutions are viewed once again as being strong and enduring,” he added.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) also weighed in on Trump’s refusal to concede and Congressional Republicans’ decision to avoid publicly congratulating Biden.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer said, “And make no mistake, there has been no evidence of any significant or widespread voter fraud. Joe Biden won this election fair and square, the margins of his victory are growing by the day.”
“As history prepares to write the final few sentences on the Trump presidency, it will surely note how this president and his Republican allies here in Congress treated our democracy on his way out the door,” he added.
Additionally, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said his Republican colleagues have asked him to privately convey their congratulations to Biden.