Networks call Georgia for Biden as security officials say vote was ‘secure’
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Your support makes all the difference.As Donald Trump continues to refuse conceding the 2020 presidential race to Joe Biden, the president-elect was said to have spoken with Senate Republicans who have begun to admit he should at least receive intelligence briefings that have so far been denied.
On Friday afternoon most networks called Georgia for Mr Biden and North Carolina for Mr Trump bringing their respective electoral college vote totals to 306 to 232.
US federal and state cybersecurity officials, meanwhile, have delivered a direct rebuke to Donald Trump, who continues to allege irregularities and widespread fraud without evidence.
Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the 3 November vote was “the most secure in history" in a report published Thursday, and added that Americans should trust the result. His agency had not find any evidence of ballots being lost, deleted or altered, he said.
Hello, and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the US election as Joe Biden is named president.
Joe Biden becomes 46th president of the US
Joe Biden is projected to have defeated Donald Trump and will become the 46th president of the United States, capping a dramatic election that saw the president prematurely declare victory after the Democratic nominee spent months declaring him unfit for office.
Mr Biden, now declared as the president-elect after his third White House bid, secured the presidency after the Associated Press on Saturday declared him the winner in Pennsylvania.
Its 20 Electoral College votes put him over the 270 needed to win, stamping the Trump presidency with a 20 January expiration date.
The declaration for Mr Biden came on the fourth-post Election Day of vote-counting, which played out on live cable television networks as states and counties methodically verified ballots and released results.
The Independent’s John T Bennet has all the details:
Joe Biden wins the US election – defeating Donald Trump
Did Biden just win? Democrat beats Trump in election after winning Pennsylvania
Trump releases statement to say Biden has not won election
Donald Trump has released a lengthy statement to contest the announcement that Joe Biden has won the presidential race.
“We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner,” the current president said, before adding: “Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states which are headed for mandatory recounts.”
Mr Trump was seen leaving the White House earlier in the day, dressed to play a round of golf.
His full statement can be seen below.
‘Let’s get started’: Kamala Harris joins Biden in tweeting about victory
Social media has well and truly blown up since the announcement was made that Joe Biden had won the presidency, and that he and Kamala Harris will enter the White House come 20 January.
Ms Harris’ statement can be seen below.
The vice president-elect’s husband, Douglas Emhoff, also posted a tweet, congratulating his wife on her historic win to become the first female vice president in US history.
The Independent’s Washington bureau chief, John T Bennett, has the latest on Trump’s refusal to accept Biden’s victory:
Trump releases statement after Biden wins 2020 election
The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.
Celebrations erupt across America as Biden named next president
From New York to Los Angeles, cheering, screaming and honking erupted in the streets as Joe Biden was projected to be 46th president of the United States.
The Associated Press was the first media outlet to out its official alert projecting the final election result at 11.27am EST (4.27pm GMT) on Saturday and video quickly began circulating of major cities across the country breaking out in celebration.
Black Live Matter Plaza in Washington DC flooded with as news spread like wildfire and other news orginisations like Fox News and CNN began following the projection for a Biden-Harris White House.
People were seen dancing on balconies, hugging on sidewalks and crying in their cars.
Justin Vallejo reports:
Celebrations erupt across the US as Biden wins election
The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent.
Harris shares moment she celebrated with Biden
Kamala Harris has taken to Twitter to share the moment she spoke to Joe Biden for the first time after learning they had won the 2020 election.
“We did it,” Ms Harris tells Mr Biden, beore adding: “You”re going to be the next president of the United States.”
Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris’ sister post symbolic messages of support
The speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has congratulated Joe Biden “on his victory” and Kamala Harris “for making history”.
Meanwhile, Ms Harris’ sister, Maya, tweeted a photo of the vice president-elect’s mother.
“Mommy would be beyond proud,” Maya said.
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