President-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris addressed the nation for the first time since they were projected to win the election.

Harris, who is the first female, first Black, and first South Asian vice president-elect in American history, spoke first and said that Americans "delivered a clear message" of "hope and unity, decency, science, and yes, truth."

"And when our very democracy was on the ballot in this election with the very soul of America at stake and the world watching, you ushered in a new day for America," Harris said.

She said that as president, Biden would work to unite the American people and said he "will help us as a nation reclaim our own sense of purpose."

"You chose hope and unity, decency, science, and yes, truth," she said. "You chose Joe Biden as the next president of the United States of America. And Joe is a healer, a uniter, a tested and steady hand. A person whose own experience of loss gives him a sense of purpose that will help us as a nation reclaim our own sense of purpose. And a man with a big heart who loves with abandon. It's his love for Jill, who will be an incredible first lady."

After Harris was done speaking, Biden jogged to the stage and delivered a unifying message to the American people.

"I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but unify. Who doesn't see red states and blue states, only sees the United States," Biden said. "And work with all my heart with the confidence of the whole people, to win the confidence of all of you. And for that is what America I believe is about. It's about people, and that's what our administration will be all about."

Biden said, "it's time to put away the harsh rhetoric" and called on Americans to "stop treating our opponents as our enemies."

"Folks, I'm a proud Democrat, but I will govern as an American president. I'll work as hard for those who didn't vote for me as those who did. Let this grim era of demonization in America begin to end here and now," he said.

Biden vowed to get to work immediately and said his first priority is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

"On Monday, I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as transition advisors to help take the Biden-Harris COVID plan and convert it into an action blueprint that will start on January 20, 2021," he said. "That plan will be built on bedrock science."

Biden said, "America is a beacon for the globe" that leads "not only by the example of our power but by the power of our example."

Biden said the next four years will be a time for America to come together and heal as a nation.

"The Bible tells us for everything there is a season, a time to build, a time to reap, and a time to sow and a time to heal. This is the time to heal in America."

After Biden was done speaking, he was joined on stage by his family and the family of Kamala Harris for a fireworks show.

Photo: Getty Images

Politics