Election 2024: Trump transition kicks off with chief of staff hire; Biden promises peaceful transfer of power

Trump’s return to the presidency has done something no political opponent could: put an end date on his time atop the Republican Party.

Well, sort of.

Trump single-handedly remade the Republican Party in his own image, not only becoming its unquestioned leader but also rewiring what the Grand Old Party stands for. After he emerged on the scene in 2015, former party heavyweights who did not abide by the new MAGA ethos either were cast off to irrelevance or became the subjects of intense lines of attack from Trump and his supporters.

But the fact is that the Constitution bars him from running for president again after a second term. And because Trump cannot run again, the process to figure out who will lead the party next has already begun, featuring a slate of ambitious and eager Republicans who have been eyeing the opportunity for years — and a fight that will be shaped by the now two-term president.

Read the full story here.

Trump has promised to conduct the biggest deportation program in American history on the first day of his new term. NBC News’ Julia Ainsley reports on Trump’s proposal and why he is considering halting federal grants to police who decline to participate in the mass deportations.

Trump’s dramatic victory has scrambled next week’s three-way contest to replace Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the chamber’s longest-serving leader, who is stepping down at the end of the year.

Two of McConnell’s trusted lieutenants — Senate Minority Whip John Thune, of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican leader, and Sen. John Cornyn, of Texas, who previously held that role — as well as Sen. Rick Scott, a conservative bomb-thrower from Trump’s home state, Florida, are all running to be Senate leader after Republicans recaptured the majority in Tuesday’s election.

Read the full story here.

NBC News projects that Cory Swanson has won the race for a seat on the Supreme Court, beating Jeremiah Lynch.

Two state Supreme Court seats were up for election this year in nonpartisan elections.

With 88% of the vote tabulated, Swanson had 53.8% of the vote and Lynch had 46.2%.

See the latest results here.

Trump celebrated his White House win with a batch of posts to Truth Social tonight, his first posts since Election Day.

In one post, Trump is pictured next to Vance with new titles: president- and vice president-elect. Another post has a picture of him with text that reads GET READY FOR THE GOLDEN AGE. The image is credited to Make America Great Again Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC.

Trump also posted images of front pages from The Wall Street Journal and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, with headlines about his election victory.

Residents in Connecticut approved a measure allowing the state Legislature to pass a law that would remove the need for voters to give a reason for requesting an absentee ballot, NBC News projects.

More than half of all states allow for no-excuse absentee voting.

See the latest results here.

A ballot measure aimed at increasing hourly wages and ensuring paid sick leave has passed in Alaska, NBC News projects.

The measure aims to bump the minimum wage to $15 per hour by July 2027 and requires employers to provide paid sick leave that can be used for mental or physical illness or injury, medical diagnosis, treatment or preventive medical care.

The minimum wage in Alaska is $11.73 per hour after it was bumped up from $10.85 in January. The measure would boost the minimum hourly wage to $13 next year, $14 in 2026 and $15 the year after that. From there it would be adjusted to keep pace with inflation.

See the latest results here.

This is the story of what happened on election night told by Americans in their own words. NBC News crews dispatched throughout the country gathered the different perspectives of everyday people explaining what happened in this historic election, why and what’s next for the country.

An initiative in Colorado that aimed to create a top-four open primary system and establish ranked-choice voting for certain state offices and congressional offices has failed, NBC News projects.

The measure would have led to the top four candidates who receive the most votes in a primary to advance to the general election.

See the latest results here.

Donald Trump Jr. said today that he would ensure Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "has a voice" in his father's incoming administration.

The remark came during a question-and-answer session on Trump's "Triggered" podcast, where he read a listener's query about Kennedy's potential role.

"We were talking about that yesterday with him for hours, you know, maybe something in HHS," Trump said, referring to the Department of Health and Human Services, before he raised concerns about difficulties with a Senate confirmation.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., laid out a "plan to fight back" in a Time op-ed, urging people to "try to learn from what happened" and then "make a plan."

Warren urged Congress to "fight," arguing that "we can build political power to put more checks on his administration and build the foundation for future wins."

"In the Senate, Democrats gave no quarter to radical Trump nominees; we asked tough questions and held the Senate floor for hours to slow down confirmation and expose Republican extremism," she wrote. "These tactics doomed some nominations entirely, laid the groundwork for other cabinet officials to later resign in disgrace, and brought scrutiny that somewhat constrained Trump’s efforts."

Democrat Dan Rayfield wins the Oregon attorney general's race, NBC News projects.

Rayfield has defeated Republican Will Lathrop after Ellen Rosenblum announced last year that she would not seek re-election for the role.

In a statement this week, Rayfield said he would "stand up against national threats to Oregon’s values, including safeguarding our abortion rights, defending democracy, and taking on big polluters."

Rosenblum described Rayfield as "a dedicated leader, committed to protecting Oregon’s rights," in a post on X this afternoon.

Currently a state legislator, Rayfield has been speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives since 2022. He began serving as a state representative in 2015.

See the latest results here.

Republican Scott Perry wins re-election to the House in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, NBC News projects.

Perry, a Trump ally and former Freedom Caucus chairman, defeated Democratic opponent Janelle Stelson.

Perry attracted national attention when he promoted unfounded claims about Dominion voting machines after Trump’s 2020 election loss. The FBI seized his cellphone in 2022 as part of a probe into efforts by Trump and his allies to block the certification of Biden’s victory.

Perry was first elected to represent the 10th Congressional District in 2018. He previously represented the 4th Congressional District, from 2013 until 2017.

See the latest results here.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon wins re-election to the House in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, NBC News projects.

With 95% of the expected vote tabulated, Bacon had 51.4% of the vote, to while Democrat Tony Vargas’ 48.6%. Bacon, the incumbent, was sworn into office in 2017.

Bacon had a strong majority in the less populous Saunders and Sarpy counties. But Douglas County, which includes Omaha and dwarfs the two other counties in population, leaned slightly to Vargas.

When Trump pushed this year to change how the state allocates electors in a way that would most likely favor Republican presidential candidates, Bacon, who supported the effort, called on Trump to "focus on winning" his district, which Harris ultimately won.

See the latest results here.

Democrat Laura Gillen wins the House seat in New York's 4th Congressional District, NBC News projects.

Gillen, a former Hampstead Town supervisor, has flipped a Republican seat held by Anthony D’Esposito since last year.

Esposito defeated Gillen during the midterms in 2022, when she won 48.2% of the vote to his 51.8%. She has been endorsed by the group EMILYs List, which works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights.

See the latest results here.

As Trump prepares a return to the White House, advisers thinking about how to staff his administration are weighing the merits of stacking Trump’s Cabinet with elected officials versus the mix of businesspeople, political outsiders and loyalists who fill up his Rolodex, three sources engaged in discussions about the transition said.

Two sources involved in the transition process said Trump is expected to place a premium on Cabinet selections from outside of government service, as opposed to sitting lawmakers, for two reasons. He sees some of his first-term outside selections, including investor Steven Mnuchin, whom he appointed to lead the Treasury Department, and Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon nominated to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as more successful and more loyal than several lawmakers he plucked from Congress.

Read the full story here.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has told Trump that he’s committed to serving out his term and will not be joining the Trump administration in the near term, according to a source close to Youngkin.

In an interview with NBC affiliate WWBT of Richmond, Youngkin also said Trump "knows that I am committed and will continue to serve as governor through my full term."

“I mean, I’m only hired for one term, one four years, and, and when I spoke to him about this, he was very supportive of me finishing the job that I’ve committed to, and I am committed to make sure that we finish this great job that America, that Virginians were so kind to give me," Youngkin added.

A federal judge chastised Rudy Giuliani today for offering a “farcical” explanation of why he hasn’t complied with a court order to turn over valuables to former Georgia election workers he defamed after the 2020 presidential campaign.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman made the remark in a New York courtroom after Giuliani’s attorney claimed Giuliani, the former mayor of New York who was an attorney for Trump, wasn’t sure where some of his belongings are.

Read the full story here.

When Trump returns to the White House for another term, Melania Trump will reprise her role as first lady of the United States for a second nonconsecutive term. Many are looking back at the four years she spent in the White House as an indicator of what a second stint might look like. NBC News’ Kate Snow reports for "TODAY."

The Trump transition team has not yet signed two agreements with the Biden administration for the transition to the new administration, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at the daily briefing.

"As of now, the Trump-Vance transition team has not yet entered [into] the agreements with the White House and the General Services [Administration]," she told reporters about the agreements, which are meant to ensure a smooth transition between administrations.

Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team, said in a statement this afternoon, “The transition team and GSA are still having conversations regarding the agreement, and we will update you once a decision is made.”

Trump today said Susie Wiles will be White House chief of staff in his forthcoming administration, his campaign said.

Wiles, a Florida native, will be the first female White House chief of staff.

“Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaign,” Trump said in a statement. “Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected.”

Read the full story here.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated today that Biden does not plan to pardon his son Hunter.

"His son Hunter is also up for being sentenced next month. Does the president have any intention of pardoning him?" a reporter asked today at the White House briefing.

"We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is 'no,'" Jean-Pierre replied.

Democrat Eugene Vindman wins the House seat in Virginia's 7th Congressional District, NBC News projects.

Vindman drew national attention when he and his brother, Alexander, reported a 2019 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that was at the center of Trump’s first impeachment. (Trump was acquitted.) Vindman will succeed Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who did not seek re-election and decided instead to run for governor next year.

Vindman defeated Republican Derrick Anderson, whom he said he spoke with by phone today.

"While we disagree on many issues, as two US Army Soldiers, we both want to see our country succeed, and I will take our shared desire to put the mission first to Congress and represent everyone in the 7th regardless of who they voted for," Vindman said of his opponent in a statement this afternoon.

See the latest results here.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for saying the Democratic Party had "abandoned" working-class people, writing on X that his remarks were "straight up BS."

In a statement yesterday, Sanders also said that Democratic leadership “defends the status quo” and that “the American people are angry and want change.”

"This is straight up BS," Harrison wrote back. "Biden was the most-pro worker President of my life time. ... There are a lot of post election takes and this one ain’t a good one."

Trump’s 2024 victory was powered by an overall voter shift in most places and most demographics compared with 2020 — with a new analysis of precinct data in pivotal Pennsylvania coloring in additional details about how he won.

The NBC News Decision Desk collected and monitored precinct-level vote results in 50 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, totaling more than 8,300 of the state’s roughly 9,000 precincts. The granular data provides a detailed insight into what was happening neighborhood to neighborhood and block to block in the country’s biggest battleground state.

Read the full story here.

Trump's victory Tuesday was powered in part by support from men amid a significant gender gap — and the unofficial results of two ballot questions in Florida provide an interesting contrast.

The amendment aiming to create a right to an abortion before fetal viability or to protect the health of the mother received about 55% of the vote. But in a state that requires 60% to pass a constitutional amendment, it fell short.

Meanwhile, an amendment establishing a constitutional amendment to "preserve forever fishing and hunting" secured 67% of the vote, according to an unofficial tally from the Florida secretary of state's office, leading it to be enshrined into law.

Democrats had been hopeful that energy surrounding the abortion amendment could help them overperform in a state that's been drifting rightward in recent years. Instead, the measure failed, their statewide candidates lost, and one of the only forthcoming changes to the state constitution after this election will be enshrining the right to fish and hunt.

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said he has spoken to Trump and congratulated him on his victory, adding that they spoke about various topics.

"We had an interesting conversation about his podcast strategy, the bullet that nearly killed him, the incredible people around him, the sometimes harmful effects of U.S. aid funds, Soros-backed NGOs, and our shared commitment to tackling the challenges ahead," he wrote on X.

Bukele attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. Today, Trump told NBC News that he has spoken to "probably" 70 world leaders since he became president-elect.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said today that he would not resign if Trump asked him to.

Asked whether he would step down amid chatter that Trump’s advisers had suggested he do so, Powell replied, “No.”

Trump nominated Powell as Federal Reserve chairman in 2017 in his first administration.

Powell also said that he is not legally required to leave if he is asked to do so and that his staff had determined that the president lacked the capacity under the law to demote, at will, him or any other Fed governors.

Read the full story here.

Harris failed to carry the county that was home to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, her vice presidential running mate, for 20 years.

Before he was elected governor, Walz lived in Mankato, which is in Blue Earth County. Trump defeated Harris there 49.6% to 48.3%.

In 2020, Biden won the county, beating Trump 50.8% to 46.4%.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said today that he has not ruled out a Cabinet position in the Trump administration. He also said he has made it clear he’d be ready to serve in any capacity Trump needs in his new administration.

“I’m in public service. I’m not trying to play quiet,” Rubio said in an interview on NBC’s “TODAY” show this morning. “I’m in public service. I like to serve our country.”

Rubio has been coy about what could come next and has said he has not spoken directly to Trump about a potential slot.

“I’m going to work with the Trump administration in whatever capacity they feel is best. I’m not presumptuous to say they’re going to pick me,” he said in an interview on Fox News. “Donald Trump makes that decision, and he makes good decisions about the people that work for him.”

President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News on Thursday that one of his first priorities upon taking office in January would be to make the border “strong and powerful.” When questioned about his campaign promise of mass deportations, Trump said his administration would have “no choice” but to carry them out.

Trump said he considers his sweeping victory over Vice President Kamala Harris a mandate “to bring common sense” to the country.

“We obviously have to make the border strong and powerful and, and we have to — at the same time, we want people to come into our country,” he said. “And you know, I’m not somebody that says, ‘No, you can’t come in.’ We want people to come in.”

As a candidate, Trump had repeatedly vowed to carry out the “largest deportation effort in American history.” Asked about the cost of his plan, he said, “It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”

Read the full story here.

Former Trump acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., are both under consideration to be Trump’s pick for attorney general, according to multiple sources familiar with the deliberations.

Three sources tell NBC News that Whitaker is engaged in talks after taking over for outgoing AG Jeff Sessions in November 2018. He remained in the role for four months. Whitaker also served as a Trump campaign surrogate over the last year and recently traveled with Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Two sources told NBC News that Schmitt is also under consideration and has elevated himself as a respected favorite inside of Mar-a-Lago over the last months. Schmitt has traveled on Trump’s plane in recent weeks and appeared on the campaign trail with him, including at Madison Square Garden.

As he left court in Manhattan for his defamation trial, Rudy Giuliani said he was open to serving in the new Trump administration.

"I would, if that’s what he wanted. I’m not offering myself for anything, but I would, you know, I’m very dedicated to him. I believe America has been delivered from the worst era we’ve had in terms of suppression of our rights," he said.

He also added that he has spoken to the now president-elect. He did not specify what the two of them discussed, saying that is between him and Trump.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott said in a Fox News interview that he has been talking to Trump and hopes the president-elect will support his bid for Senate majority leader.

“I’m hoping he’ll support me this time. But he’s doing the right thing right now. He won his race, so we’re texting back and forth. So, but, I’m doing everything I can to make sure his agenda gets accomplished,” he said.

An ally of Scott’s, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is also calling on Trump to endorse Scott publicly.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at today's press briefing that Biden believes he did the right thing when he decided to drop out of the 2024 presidential race in July.

"The president believes that he made the right decision when he decided to step aside and immediately endorsed the vice president," she said when asked if Biden believes he could have beaten Trump in the general election.

"He believed it was the right thing for the American people," she said.

Asked if he has any regrets, she said, "This was not the outcome that our team had wanted. So are we disappointed? Yes," she said, but added that the White House respects the election outcome and what Americans voted for.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the president-elect on his victory during a rambling hourslong press conference at the Valdai discussion club in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi today.

He said he was open to dialogue and ready to have discussions with Trump, and that Trump's desire to facilitate an end to the crisis in Ukraine "deserves attention."

“I do not consider it shameful for me to call him myself," Putin said. "I just do not do it, because the leaders of Western countries called me almost every week at some stage, until they stopped all of a sudden."

It will be awhile before we know who wins the Pennsylvania Senate race, but the campaigns of both Bob Casey, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican Dave McCormick are projecting optimism about their chances.

Casey’s campaign points to a combination of military and overseas ballots that could still swing his way because those ballots will be accepted until Nov. 12. But the real wild card they are watching are the provisional ballots, especially out of bluer Philadelphia and Allegheny areas.

Allegheny estimates that about 12,680 provisional ballots were cast, and Philadelphia is expected to release its numbers tomorrow, so Casey’s campaign says there could be enough of a margin to put him over the edge.

“We’re buckled in. Our path to victory requires patience,” said one Casey campaign official.

Students at Howard University, Harris' alma mater, thanked the vice president for her run for president. In a video posted to X, many said they were inspired by Harris and that she made them proud.

Harris gave an emotional concession speech at the university yesterday.

Democratic Rep. Don Davis has won re-election in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, NBC News projects.

See the latest results here.

With 91% of the vote reported, Davis beat Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout, 49.5% to 47.9%. Buckhout is a retired Army colonel and combat commander.

It was considered a toss-up race by the Cook Political Report.

The district is in the northeastern part of the state, which borders Virginia. Davis has held the seat since January 2023, and previously served in the state Senate.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on X that he has called an emergency special legislative session "to protect our state against any unlawful actions by the incoming Trump Administration."

The session, which will begin Dec. 2, will "focus on bolstering California legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action, and immigrant families," his office said.

In his X post, which linked to The New York Times' coverage of his plans, Newsom said "California is ready to fight."

"Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action — we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked," he wrote.

Trump’s victory spurred a surge on Wall Street with the Dow Jones, S&P and Nasdaq reaching record highs. It comes as the Federal Reserve is weighing another interest rate cut with a new administration to consider. NBC’s Christine Romans reports for "TODAY."

Speaking to the press before heading into court in Manhattan today, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tried to explain why he hasn't surrendered his assets as part of a $146 million defamation judgment involving former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss.

When asked why a lawyer for the two election workers said he had removed the contents of his New York apartment before they were able to go there to seek out some of those assets, Giuliani said, "All the things that were appropriate were there, and the apartment was pretty full with things. So they’re lying completely. Every room had furniture."

Giuliani also claimed that Freeman and Moss are not legally entitled to "a lot" of his assets — for example, his grandfather’s watch, which he said was 150 years old and a “bit of an heirloom.”

“Usually you don’t get those, unless you’re involved in a political persecution," he said. "In fact, having me here today is like a political persecution."

Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he's been in contact with Trump and hopes the president-elect will lend federal infrastructure help to America's largest city.

"We want to work together with the (incoming) administration to address a lot of our infrastructure issues," Adams told reporters today. "The city must move forward and that's what our goal is to do."

At Trump’s election night celebration, a list of alternative media stars with massive followings of young Americans received an impromptu shoutout.

“I want to thank some people real quick: The Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, Bussin’ With The Boys and, last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan,” Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts promotion company, said on stage.

The names — shows and personalities that hosted Trump on their programs during the campaign — comprise a who’s who of the most influential shows among young American men. And in an election in which his campaign specifically courted that demographic, the shoutout hinted at what has so far been borne out in exit polling data.

Read the full story here.

After helping engineer Trump’s improbable and sweeping victory in the presidential race, Susie Wiles, the president-elect’s unassuming co-campaign chief, is seen as the front-runner to become his White House chief of staff, according to six sources familiar with discussions inside the campaign. 

In a world riven by rivalries, advisers credit Wiles’ ability to gain Trump’s respect and corral big personalities. If chosen, Wiles would become the first female White House chief of staff in history.

“She has commanded a ton of respect amongst the staff, as well as loyalty. She doesn’t play games. And she means what she says: On the campaign, she said we are checking egos at the door and held everyone to it,” said one campaign official who, like others in this piece, was granted anonymity to speak candidly or because they were not authorized to speak on the record. “The team of rivals concept did not apply here.”

Read the full story here.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., praised Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, today in a statement on the election, calling them "remarkable public servants who ran an inspired campaign focused on lifting people up."

Acknowledging it was still unclear which party will control the House, Jeffries added, "I am proud that the Democratic Party does not believe in election denial. Our Democracy is precious and it involves elevating public trust in our system of free and fair elections, not undermining it."

"We cannot love America only when we win," he said.

In his first public remarks since the election, Biden also emphasized the integrity of the electoral system and urged respect for election workers, which Trump and his supporters have repeatedly assailed as "rigged" and corrupted.

"I also hope we can lay to rest the question about the integrity of the American electoral system," he said. "It is honest, it is fair and it is transparent. And it can be trusted, win or lose."

"I also hope we can restore the respect for all our election workers who busted their necks, took risks to the outset," Biden said. "We should thank them, thank them for staffing voting sites, counting the votes, protecting the very integrity of the election. Many of them are volunteers who do it simply out of love for their country."

Biden said he took this week's electoral loss in stride and urged Harris’ supporters to keep fighting for their agenda.

“You know, we’re leaving behind the strongest economy in the world. I know people are still hurting, but things are changing. Together, we’ve changed America for the better,” he said.

The S&P 500 closed at 3,852 the day Biden was inaugurated nearly four years ago and opened at 5,947 on today. The jobless rate was last reported at 4.1 percent.

“Now we have 74 days to finish the term, our term. Let’s make every day count," Biden said. "That’s the responsibility we have to the American people. Look folks, you all know it, setbacks are unavoidable but giving up is unforgivable. Setbacks are unavoidable, giving up is unforgivable.”

The nation’s 46th president is set to leave office Jan. 20.

Biden celebrated his “historic presidency” in his remarks in the Rose Garden while acknowledging Harris and his supporters were suffering over her loss.

"To all our incredible staff, supporters, Cabinet members, all the people who hang out with me for the last four years — God love me, as my mother would say — thank you so much," Biden continued. "You put so much into the past four years. I know it’s a difficult time. You’re hurting. I hear you and I see you. Don’t forget. Don’t forget all that we accomplished. It’s been a historic presidency, not because I’m president but because what we’ve done — what you’ve done.”

Biden addressed the nation on the outcome of the 2024 race for the first time in remarks in the White House Rose Garden, saying that Harris ran an "inspiring campaign" and that he will assure a peaceful transition of power.

Calling Harris "a partner and a public servant," Biden said, "She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much: her character. She’s a backbone like a ramrod. She has great character, true character. She gave her whole heart effort, and she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran."

"Campaigns are contests of competing visions," the president continued. "The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. I've said many times, you can't love your country only when you win. You can't love your neighbor only when you agree, something I hope we can do no matter who you voted for, to see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans."

Praising the election workers and volunteers who counted ballots across the nation, Biden added, "As they did their duty as citizens, I will do my duty as president. I’ll fulfill my oath and I will honor the Constitution. On Jan. 20, we’ll have a peaceful transfer of power here in America.”

Biden’s core message in Rose Garden remarks today will be about the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and respecting the Democratic process, a senior White House official who previewed the speech told NBC News. 

Biden will make clear that he wants to restore the traditions that were in place before he took office but were not extended to him by then-President Trump when Biden won in 2020.

He will underscore that he already called the president-elect and invited him to the White House, just as then-President Barack Obama did in the days after Trump’s 2016 victory. 

Biden will also heap praise on Harris for her “historic campaign” and congratulate her on the race she ran, even if she came up short, the official said. 

Harris addressed her supporters following her 2024 election loss and urged her supporters “to not give up.” NBC News’ Monica Alba reports on the vice president’s message for Democrats.

One notable dynamic of Trump's two wins in 2016 and 2024: The campaign that spent and raised less money won.

For all the fundraising records Harris' team broke in her 100-day campaign sprint, her campaign fell short.

Harris' campaign directly raised almost $1 billion and spent $880 million, compared to the Trump campaign's $390 million raised and $355 million spent. And that dynamic transferred to the airwaves too, where Democrats and pro-Democratic groups spent $1.4 billion on ads compared to the pro-GOP side's just under $1 billion.

Trump got outspent heavily in 2016 too, but went on to win. However, Biden outraised and outspent Trump in 2020 on his way to victory then.

After winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump is now pivoting to working out who his inner circle will be when he returns to the White House with Linda McMahon, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marco Rubio under consideration. NBC’s Hallie Jackson reports for "TODAY."

HONG KONG — We must find a way to “get along,” Chinese President Xi Jinping told Trump in a congratulatory message today — an immediate nod to the long-frayed relations between the rival superpowers, as well as the disruption Trump’s return to the White House might bring.

Trump could inject new levels of volatility into what is often described as the world’s most important bilateral relationship, after an election win that comes at a critical moment for the globe’s two largest economies.

Ties have been at their lowest point in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan and Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. But since last year, the Biden administration has taken steps to improve communication and cooperation with Beijing, which is one of Washington’s largest trading partners but is also seen as its main long-term strategic adversary.

In addition to the consequences for the global economy, an increase in U.S.-China tensions would have far-reaching implications for U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region such as South Korea, Japan and Australia.

Read the full story here.

Trump is projected to win Alaska's presidential contest, besting Harris and securing the state's three electoral votes.

See the latest results here.

Trump also is projected to win Maine's 2nd Congressional District, which awards a single electoral vote. He also won it in 2020.

Stock markets surged amid the news of Trump’s win, with the Dow Jones logging its best day in two years, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also hit record highs. Editor-in-chief at Investopedia, Caleb Silver, explains why Trump’s win positively affected the markets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a summit with European leaders today that he spoke with Trump yesterday and had a "good, productive conversation."

"Of course, we cannot yet know what his specific actions will be. But we do hope that America will become stronger," he said at the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Hungary. "This is the kind of America that Europe needs. And a strong Europe is what America needs. This is the connection between allies that must be valued and cannot be lost."

In his remarks, Zelenskyy argued that Ukraine's allies cannot yield to Russia in its war against Ukraine.

"Russia started this war not because it needed more territory," he said. "Russia has more land than anyone. They wanted global power, starting with control over Ukraine and then over all of you," he said, adding that Ukraine needs "sufficient weapons" and "not support in talks."

After winning the Electoral College and the popular vote, Trump held phone calls with foreign leaders, including Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and Xi Jinping of China who both congratulated him and pledged to work together. NBC’s Garrett Haake reports for "TODAY."

A Russian lawmaker who was once jailed in the U.S. for infiltrating politically powerful American organizations to push Moscow’s agenda, told NBC News that she thinks Trump might “do what he promises” when it comes to ending the war in Ukraine. 

Maria Butina said in an interview Tuesday that she thought his administration was more likely to focus on the conflict in the Middle East “because that’s the major for the United States.”

However, she said Trump had said he would immediately end the war “and stop financing Ukraine.”

“He has been saying many words for a long time, though I think actually he might this time do what he promises,” she said. 

Harris gave an emotional and hopeful concession speech yesterday at her alma mater, Howard University, that moved her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and some supporters to tears. NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez reports for "TODAY."

Yesterday was a quiet day at Mar-a-Lago mostly spent speaking to world leaders and thinking about the future, a senior Trump campaign official said.

"They were genuinely happy to talk to him and know that he was coming back and he won this big election, and he said things like he had learned lessons," the official said.

Today, he’ll be returning more calls from world leaders — there are a lot.

Trump continued to receive congratulations from across the globe as world leaders pledged to work with the president-elect — all while bracing for potential world-changing policies out of Washington.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged that many elements of U.S.-Europe ties could be different under Trump, but emphasized that Germany will be committed to the transatlantic relationship and noted that the European Union had already taken on more responsibility for security and energy, which are common interests with the United States. He also noted that the U.S. and Europe benefit from their transatlantic partnership, adding in English, “We’re better off together."

Referring to Ukraine's defensive war against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Trump’s “peace through strength” approach is what “Russia and autocrats understand.” He added, “Congratulations to the American people, and thank you for your support.”

Russia's Foreign Affairs Ministry responded to Trump's win by claiming in a statement that Democrats had unleashed "a powerful propaganda campaign" against him and praised Trump for emphasizing "issues of economics and illegal migration that really concern voters, in opposition to the globalist course of the White House."

Republicans have reclaimed control of the White House and the Senate. Now all eyes are turning to the House of Representatives, which Democrats see as their last line of defense to stop Trump and his agenda.

The fight for the majority comes with enormous stakes.

Will Trump wield a Republican trifecta that’s expected to support his agenda and his demands? Or will he face a House run by Democrats who would serve as a check on his legislative agenda and wield subpoena power to investigate his administration?

With many competitive races still not called, NBC News has not yet projected which party will control the House in 2025. But given Trump’s decisive victory over Harris, House Republicans are feeling bullish about their chances of preserving their slim majority.

Read the full story here.

When Trump returns to the White House, he’ll be supported by a Republican-controlled Senate. While control of the House remains up for grabs, if Republicans take majority there too, it will have massive implications in Washington. NBC’s Ryan Nobles reports for "TODAY."

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Democrats were counting on fed-up women to elect America’s first female president. Instead, dissatisfied men helped return Trump to power. 

The president-elect’s two eldest sons helped him pick a running mate who once decried “childless cat ladies,” while his youngest son, Barron, encouraged his father’s pivot to podcasts in an effort to reach other young men, a typically reliably Democratic voting bloc that split evenly this year.

“I think the gender gap is going to be the story of the next 20 years. Truly,” Democratic strategist Caitlin Legacki said. “There are a lot of men who feel like they’re being left behind, that society doesn’t have a place for them. And if we don’t want a civil war breaking out along gender lines, we’ve got to figure that out. That is the biggest widening gap in American society.”

The entire country shifted right, like other Western democracies in the inflationary post-Covid era. And with the electorate in a foul mood, Harris struggled to separate herself from a deeply unpopular incumbent who waited too long to step aside and whose aides had undermined her for years.

Late-night hosts Desi Lydic, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and others share their take on Trump’s election victory.

Biden is scheduled to address the nation from the Rose Garden at 11 a.m., and said in a post on X this morning that he would be discussing the election and transition.

The speech will be his first public remarks since the election.

Trump’s victory in an election in which abortion rights were a heavy focus raises major questions about what might come next for abortion access in the U.S. 

During the final stages of his campaign, Trump said he thought states should determine their own abortion policies. But his position on the issue has varied widely — in a March interview, he signaled support for a nationwide ban on abortions after 15 weeks’ gestation and, as president, he supported a House bill that would have banned abortion nationwide after 20 weeks. During his 2016 campaign, Trump pledged to appoint Supreme Court justices who could help overturn Roe v. Wade. As president, he accomplished that goal and has at times boasted about it. 

Read the full story here.