Editing Joe Biden (section)

==2020 presidential campaign==
{{Main|Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign}}

=== Speculation and announcement ===
[[File:Biden9 (32932624647).jpg|thumb|Biden at his presidential kickoff rally in [[Philadelphia]], May 2019|alt=Photo of Biden raising his fist while standing behind a lectern]]

Between 2016 and 2019, media outlets often mentioned Biden as a likely candidate for president in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-201612-htmlstory.html#joe-biden-wouldnt-count-out-a-2020-run-for-president-but-he-was-asked-in-an-emotional-moment|title=Joe Biden wouldn't count out a 2020 run for president. But he was asked in an emotional moment|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=August 27, 2021|date=December 6, 2016|last=A. Memoli|first=Michael|archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090152/https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-trailguide-updates-201612-htmlstory.html#joe-biden-wouldnt-count-out-a-2020-run-for-president-but-he-was-asked-in-an-emotional-moment|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked if he would run, he gave varied and ambivalent answers, saying "never say never".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/07/politics/joe-biden-colbert-interview-2020-buzz/|title=Biden stokes 2020 buzz on Colbert: 'Never say never' |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=December 8, 2016|date=December 7, 2016|last=Wright|first=David|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090156/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/07/politics/joe-biden-colbert-interview-2020-buzzhttps://|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[political action committee]] known as [[Time for Biden]] was formed in January 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wvik.org/post/new-quad-city-super-pac-time-biden |title=New Quad City Super PAC: 'Time for Biden' |last=Charnetzki |first=Tori |publisher=[[WVIK]] |date=January 10, 2018 |access-date=January 24, 2018 |archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090209/https://www.wvik.org/post/new-quad-city-super-pac-time-biden/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden launched his campaign on April 25, 2019,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scherer |first1=Michael |last2=Wagner |first2=John |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Former vice president Joe Biden jumps into White House race |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-vice-president-joe-biden-jumps-into-white-house-race/2019/04/25/093ff596-0aef-11e9-88e3-989a3e456820_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526072655/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/former-vice-president-joe-biden-jumps-into-white-house-race/2019/04/25/093ff596-0aef-11e9-88e3-989a3e456820_story.html |archive-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref> saying he was worried by the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] and felt a "sense of duty".<ref>{{cite news |last=Dovere |first=Edward-Isaac |date=February 4, 2019 |title=Biden's Anguished Search for a Path to Victory |work=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/02/joe-biden-close-running-president-despite-doubts/581956/|url-status=live|access-date=February 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090215/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/02/joe-biden-close-running-president-despite-doubts/581956https:// |archive-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref>

=== Campaign ===
{{Further|2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2020 United States presidential debates}}

As the 2020 campaign season heated up, public polling showed Biden as one of the best-performing Democratic candidates head-to-head against Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Ashley Pratte |last=Oates |title=Opinion |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=January 24, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/joe-biden-democrats-best-chance-beat-trump-2020-no-other-ncna961836 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Every 2020 Democrat Wants To Be The Electable Candidate |first1=Kevin |last1=Robillard |first2=Amanda |last2=Terkel |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=HuffPost |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/electability-2020_n_5cb73acbe4b0c53a1705763f |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pramuk |first=Jacob |title=Here's how Biden, Sanders, Warren and other top Democrats are faring against Trump in national polls |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=CNBC |date=November 5, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/how-biden-warren-and-sanders-fare-vs-trump-in-2020-election-polls.html |url-status=live}}</ref> With Democrats keenly focused on "electability" for defeating Trump,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barabak |first=Mark Z. |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Desperate to beat Trump, Democrats differ over who is best |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003532/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-31/democrats-electability-2020-iowa-caucus |url-status=live}}</ref> this boosted his popularity among Democratic voters.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Scocca |first=Tom |date=April 12, 2020 |title=Biden's Electability Only Works if There Is an Election |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/biden-won-without-votes.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |issn=1091-2339 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003526/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/biden-won-without-votes.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It also made Biden a frequent target of Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Mike |date=July 25, 2018 |title=Scoop: Trump fears Biden 2020, losing Pennsylvania |url=https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Axios |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.axios.com/2018/07/25/scoop-trump-fears-biden-losing-pennsylvania-1532514558 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Adam |last=Edelman |title=Trump says Biden would go down "fast" and "crying" in a fight |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=March 22, 2018 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-attacks-crazy-biden-tweet-physically-mentally-weak-n858981 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2019, it was reported that Trump had pressured Ukrainian president [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] to investigate [[Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory|alleged wrongdoing]] by Biden and his son [[Hunter Biden]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |title=Ukraine Pressured on U.S. Political Investigations |last=Kramer |first=Andrew E. |date=September 20, 2019 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 20, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920171010/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/world/europe/ukraine-trump-zelensky.html |url-status=live}}</ref> No evidence was produced of any wrongdoing by the Bidens.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isachenkov |first=Vladimir |title=Ukraine's prosecutor says there is no probe into Biden |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |access-date=October 1, 2019 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 27, 2019 |quote=Though the timing raised concerns among anti-corruption advocates, there has been no evidence of wrongdoing by either the former vice president or his son. |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001005328/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ukraines-prosecutor-says-there-is-no-probe-into-biden |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=White House 'tried to cover up details of Trump-Ukraine call' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=September 26, 2019 |quote=There is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930105132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49842895 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Matthew |last1=Brown |date=January 15, 2021|accessdate=July 7, 2021|title=Fact check: False conspiracy theories allege connection between Biden victory and Ukraine |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608213107/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Trump was perceived by many as attempting to hurt Biden's chances of winning the presidency,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mackinnon |first=Amy |date=September 20, 2019 |title=Is Trump Trying to Get Ukraine to Take Out Biden for Him? |magazine=[[Foreign Policy]] |publisher=[[Graham Holdings]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/20/is-trump-trying-to-get-ukraine-to-take-out-biden-for-him/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920210034/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/09/20/is-trump-trying-to-get-ukraine-to-take-out-biden-for-him/ |archive-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> resulting in [[Trump–Ukraine scandal|a political scandal]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Trump Repeatedly Pressed Ukraine President to Investigate Biden's Son |first1=Alan |last1=Cullison |first2=Rebecca |last2=Ballhaus |first3=Dustin |last3=Volz |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923092317/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-defends-conversation-with-ukraine-leader-11568993176 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[First impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump's impeachment]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 10, 2021 |title=This is why Donald Trump was impeached the first time – previous charges against former US president explained |first=Matt |last=Brooks |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514003522/https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/why-was-donald-trump-impeached-the-first-time-previous-charges-against-the-former-us-president-explained-3100617 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2019 and April 2019, eight women accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact, such as embracing, touching or kissing.<ref>{{cite web|title=All the Women Who Have Spoken Out Against Joe Biden|url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html|work=[[The Cut (website)|The Cut]]|access-date=May 19, 2021|date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=December 17, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201217214742/https://www.thecut.com/2020/04/joe-biden-accuser-accusations-allegations.html|url-status=live|first1=Amanda|last1=Arnold|first2=Claire|last2=Lampen}}</ref> Biden had previously called himself a "tactile politician" and admitted this behavior had caused trouble for him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html |title=Nevada Democrat accuses Joe Biden of touching and kissing her without consent at 2014 event |access-date=December 30, 2019 |last=Brice-Saddler |first=Michael |date=March 29, 2019 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090227/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-joe-biden-kiss-lucy-flores-20190329-story.html/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Journalist [[Mark Bowden]] described Biden's lifelong habit of talking close, writing that he "doesn't just meet you, he engulfs you... scooting closer" and leaning forward to talk.<ref name="The Atlantic">{{Cite magazine |last=Bowden |first=Mark |date=August 30, 2010 |title=The Salesman |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/10/the-salesman/308226/ |access-date=March 27, 2023 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123045827/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/10/the-salesman/308226/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2019, Biden pledged to be more "respectful of people's personal space".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Martin|first2=Jonathan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html|title=Joe Biden, in video, says he will be 'more mindful' of personal space|date=April 3, 2019|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620090251/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/03/us/politics/joe-biden-women-video.html/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Joe Biden Rally at Hiatt Middle School - 49480899101.jpg|left|thumb|Biden at a rally on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, February 2020|alt=Photo of Biden holding a microphone, with a crowd in the background]]

Throughout 2019, Biden stayed generally ahead of other Democrats in national polls.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/nbc-wsj-poll-former-vice-president-joe-biden-frontrunner-in/article_24e6b0ee-2256-11ea-9a8d-e79be1ad7f68.html |title=NBC/WSJ poll: Former Vice-President Joe Biden frontrunner in race for Democratic nomination |date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213155327/https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/nbc-wsj-poll-former-vice-president-joe-biden-frontrunner-in/article_24e6b0ee-2256-11ea-9a8d-e79be1ad7f68.html |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-is-the-front-runner-but-there-is-no-clear-favorite/|title=Biden Is The Front-Runner, But There's No Clear Favorite |last=Silver |first=Nate |author-link=Nate Silver |date=January 10, 2020 |work=[[FiveThirtyEight]] |access-date=February 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214220639/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/biden-is-the-front-runner-but-there-is-no-clear-favorite/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite this, he finished fourth in the [[2020 Iowa caucuses|Iowa caucuses]] and fifth in the [[New Hampshire presidential primary|New Hampshire primary]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=2020 Iowa Democratic Caucuses Live Results |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/iowa/ |date=February 3, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=March 22, 2020 |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207234356/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/election-results/iowa/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 11, 2020 |title=New Hampshire results |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-primary-elections/new-hampshire-results |access-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212082135/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-primary-elections/new-hampshire-results |url-status=live}}</ref> He performed better in the [[Nevada presidential caucuses|Nevada caucuses]], reaching the 15% required for delegates, but still finished 21.6 percentage points behind [[Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign|Bernie Sanders]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nevada Election Results 2020|url=https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/nevada/|access-date=November 14, 2020|newspaper=[[Politico]]|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115105350/https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/nevada/|url-status=live}}</ref> Making strong appeals to Black voters on the campaign trail and in the South Carolina debate, Biden won the [[2020 South Carolina Democratic primary|South Carolina primary]] by more than 28 points.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a|title=Biden wins South Carolina, aims for Super Tuesday momentum |date=February 29, 2020 |work=[[Associated Press News]] |access-date=March 1, 2020 |first1=Steve |last1=Peoples |first2=Meg |last2=Kinnard |first3=Bill |last3=Barrow |archive-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229231101/https://apnews.com/b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a |url-status=live}}</ref> After the withdrawals and subsequent endorsements of candidates [[Pete Buttigieg]] and [[Amy Klobuchar]], he made large gains in the [[Super Tuesday]] primaries. Biden won [[Results of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|18 of the next 26 contests]], putting him in the lead.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Montanaro |first1=Domenico |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=November 14, 2020 |title=5 Takeaways From Super Tuesday And Joe Biden's Big Night |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811868704/5-takeaways-from-super-tuesday-and-joe-bidens-big-night |publisher=[[NPR]] |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113205101/https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811868704/5-takeaways-from-super-tuesday-and-joe-bidens-big-night |url-status=live}}</ref> Elizabeth Warren and Mike Bloomberg soon dropped out, and Biden expanded his lead with victories over Sanders in four states on March 10.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/politics/2020-primary-election-takeaways/index.html |title=5 takeaways as Biden takes command of Democratic race on Super Tuesday II |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 11, 2020 |date=March 11, 2020 |first1=Eric |last1=Bradner |first2=Gregory |last2=Krieg |first3=Dan |last3=Merica |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311093752/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/11/politics/2020-primary-election-takeaways/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In late March 2020, Tara Reade, one of the eight women who in 2019 had accused Biden of inappropriate physical contact, [[Joe Biden sexual assault allegation|accused]] Biden of having sexually assaulted her in 1993.<ref name="nytimesallegations">{{cite news |last1=Lerer |first1=Lisa |last2=Ember |first2=Sydney |title=Examining Tara Reade's Sexual Assault Allegation Against Joe Biden |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412090835/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/politics/joe-biden-tara-reade-sexual-assault-complaint.html |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=April 14, 2020 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 12, 2020}}</ref> There were inconsistencies between Reade's 2019 and 2020 allegations.<ref name="nytimesallegations" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=McGann |first1=Laura |title=The Agonizing Story of Tara Reade |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507224441/https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/2020/5/7/21248713/tara-reade-joe-biden-sexual-assault-accusation |archive-date=May 7, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Biden and his campaign denied the sexual assault allegation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html|title=Sexual assault allegation by former Biden Senate aide emerges in campaign, draws denial |date=April 12, 2020|access-date=April 14, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first1=Beth |last1=Reinhard |first2=Elise |last2=Viebeck |first3=Matt |last3=Viser |first4=Alice |last4=Crites |archive-date=April 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200428141345/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sexual-assault-allegation-by-former-biden-senate-aide-emerges-in-campaign-draws-denial/2020/04/12/bc070d66-7067-11ea-b148-e4ce3fbd85b5_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Amber |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |title=What we know about Tara Reade's sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618153105/https://www.washingtonpost.comhttps://politics/2020/04/30/who-is-tara-reade-biden-accuser/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

When Sanders suspended his campaign on April 8, 2020, Biden became the Democratic Party's [[presumptive nominee]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Ember|first=Sydney|date=April 8, 2020|title=Bernie Sanders Drops Out of 2020 Democratic Race for President |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |access-date=April 8, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408160232/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 13, Sanders endorsed Biden.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html|title=Bernie Sanders Endorses Joe Biden for President|last1=Ember|first1=Sydney|last2=Glueck|first2=Katie|date=April 13, 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 13, 2020|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413182004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-endorsement.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Barack Obama]] endorsed Biden the next day.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Merica |first1=Dan |last2=Zeleny |first2=Jeff |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |title=Obama endorses Biden for president in video message |date=April 14, 2020 |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-date=April 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414183659/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/obama-endorses-biden/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 11, Biden announced U.S. senator [[Kamala Harris]] as his running mate, making her the first African American and first [[South Asian American]] vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |title=Biden VP pick: Kamala Harris chosen as running mate |website=[[BBC News]] |date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010223842/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323 |url-status=live}}</ref> On August 18, 2020, at the [[2020 Democratic National Convention]], Biden officially became the Democratic Party nominee for president in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=DNC Nominates Joe Biden to Lead Nation Through Pandemic |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Joshua |last1=Jamerson |first2=Chad |last2=Day |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818221830/https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-to-nominate-joe-biden-bill-clinton-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-to-speak-11597777946 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Biden officially becomes the Democratic Party's nominee on convention's second night |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 19, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |first1=Toluse |last1=Olorunnipa |first2=Chelsea |last2=Janes |first3=Felicia |last3=Sonmez |first4=Colby |last4=Itkowitz |first5=John |last5=Wagner |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190515/https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2020/08/18/democratic-national-convention-live-updates/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Presidential election and transition ===
{{Main|2020 United States presidential election|Presidential transition of Joe Biden}}
[[File:ElectoralCollege2020.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Results for the 2020 United States presidential election|2020 electoral vote results. Biden won 306–232.]]
Biden was [[2020 United States presidential election|elected]] the 46th president in November 2020, defeating the incumbent, [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Santucci |first=Jeanine |date=December 9, 2020 |title=Timeline: Trump insists he won the election as Biden prepares to take the White House |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/09/bidens-transition-continues-trump-refuses-concede-timeline/3801714001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204403/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/09/bidens-transition-continues-trump-refuses-concede-timeline/3801714001/ |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=June 21, 2021 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Trump and numerous other Republicans repeatedly made [[False or misleading statements by Donald Trump|false claims]] that widespread [[electoral fraud]] had occurred and that only he had legitimately won the election.{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name=JackSmithReportVol1 />{{Rp|pages=3-4}}<ref name=JanuarySixFinalReport />{{Rp|pages=195-233}}|name=TrumpMakesClaimsOfElectionFraud}} Biden's transition was delayed by several weeks as the White House ordered federal agencies not to cooperate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rein |first1=Lisa |last2=Viser |first2=Matt |last3=Miller |first3=Greg |last4=Dawsey |first4=Josh |date=November 9, 2020 |title=White House, escalating tensions, orders agencies to rebuff Biden transition team |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-transition-agencies-biden/2020/11/09/ad9f2ba2-22b7-11eb-952e-0c475972cfc0_story.html |access-date=January 4, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114063503/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-transition-agencies-biden/2020/11/09/ad9f2ba2-22b7-11eb-952e-0c475972cfc0_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On November&nbsp;23, [[General Services Administration|General Services Administrator]] [[Emily W. Murphy]] formally recognized Biden as the apparent winner of the 2020 election and authorized the start of a transition process to the Biden administration.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|publisher=[[CNN]]|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/23/politics/transition-biden-gsa-begin/index.html|title=First on CNN: GSA tells Biden that transition can formally begin|first1=Kristen|last1=Holmes|first2=Jeremy|last2=Herb|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=November 23, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123232709/https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/23/politics/transition-biden-gsa-begin/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although most resulting lawsuits were either dismissed or ruled against by numerous courts,{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name=JackSmithReportVol1 />{{Rp|pages=5-6}}<ref name=JanuarySixFinalReport />{{Rp|pages=210-213}}<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cummings |first1=William |last2=Garrison |first2=Joey |last3=Sergent |first3=Jim |date=2021-01-06 |title=By the numbers: President Donald Trump's failed efforts to overturn the election |url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/trumps-failed-efforts-overturn-election-numbers/4130307001/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220120073536/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/trumps-failed-efforts-overturn-election-numbers/4130307001/ |archive-date=2022-01-20 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=[[USA Today]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Shamsian |first1=Jacob |last2=Sheth |first2=Sonam |date=2021-02-22 |title=Trump and Republican officials have won zero out of at least 42 lawsuits they've filed since Election Day |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-lawsuits-election-results-2020-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250309062112/https://web.archive.org/web/20210222224245/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-lawsuits-election-results-2020-11 |archive-date=March 9, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Daniel |date=2024-11-02 |title=How Trump's challenges to the 2020 election unfolded in the courtroom |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trumps-challenges-2020-election-unfolded-courtroom-rcna175490 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241103163133/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trumps-challenges-2020-election-unfolded-courtroom-rcna175490 |archive-date=2024-11-03 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kovacs-Goodman |first=Jacob |date=2021-03-10 |title=Post-Election Litigation Analysis and Summaries |url=https://web.mit.edu/healthyelections/www/sites/default/files/2021-06/Post-Election_Litigation_Analysis.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017143427/https://web.mit.edu/healthyelections/www/sites/default/files/2021-06/Post-Election_Litigation_Analysis.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-17 |access-date=2025-03-10 |publisher=Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=4, 10-14}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Russell |date=2021-11-30 |title=Trump's judicial campaign to upend the 2020 election: A failure, but not a wipe-out |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/trumps-judicial-campaign-to-upend-the-2020-election-a-failure-but-not-a-wipe-out/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250310063550/https://web.archive.org/web/20230729234453/https://www.brookings.edu/articles/trumps-judicial-campaign-to-upend-the-2020-election-a-failure-but-not-a-wipe-out/ |archive-date=March 10, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website= |publisher=[[Brookings Institution]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |date=2021-03-08 |title=Supreme Court Kills Last Trump Election Lawsuit |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/03/08/supreme-court-kills-last-trump-election-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250310063338/https://web.archive.org/web/20210309115552/https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2021/03/08/best-ssds/?sh=4aca098f1533 |archive-date=March 10, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref>|name=CourtsDismissClaimsOfElectionFraud}} Trump nonetheless [[Criminal conspiracy|conspired]]<ref name="JackSmithReportVol1">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jack |author-link=Jack Smith (lawyer) |date=2025-01-07 |title=Final Report of the Special Counsel Under 28 C.F.R. § 600.8 |url=https://www.justice.gov/storage/Report-of-Special-Counsel-Smith-Volume-1-January-2025.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114061624/https://www.justice.gov/storage/Report-of-Special-Counsel-Smith-Volume-1-January-2025.pdf |archive-date=2025-01-14 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=[[United States Department of Justice]]}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=33-53}} with his [[Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign|campaign]] team to [[Trump fake electors plot|submit documents in several states]] (all of which Biden had won) that [[Making false statements|falsely claimed]] to be legitimate electoral votes for President Trump and Vice President [[Mike Pence]].{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name=JackSmithReportVol1 />{{Rp|pages=11-16}}<ref name=JanuarySixFinalReport>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-22 |title=Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-REPORT/pdf/GPO-J6-REPORT.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223203001/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-J6-REPORT/pdf/GPO-J6-REPORT.pdf |archive-date=2022-12-23 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=[[GovInfo]]}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=341-359}}<ref name="Breuninger_6/22/2022">{{Cite web |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Trump had a direct role in plan to install fake electors. Key takeaways from the fourth Jan. 6 hearing |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/jan-6-probe-takeaways-trump-had-a-direct-role-in-plan-to-install-fake-electors.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622151510/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/jan-6-probe-takeaways-trump-had-a-direct-role-in-plan-to-install-fake-electors.html |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=July 29, 2022 |website=[[CNBC]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Daniel Villarreal NW- |date=2020-12-15 |title=Michigan Republicans Tried to Submit Fake Electoral Votes to Capitol |url=https://www.newsweek.com/michigan-republicans-tried-submit-fake-electoral-votes-capitol-1555028 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215235518/https://www.newsweek.com/michigan-republicans-tried-submit-fake-electoral-votes-capitol-1555028 |archive-date=2020-12-15 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Costa |first1=Robert |author-link1=Robert Costa (journalist) |last2=Watson |first2=Kathryn |date=2023-08-09 |title=Newly unveiled memo cited in Trump indictment detailed false electors scheme |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fraudulent-electors-memo-kenneth-chesebro-trump-indictment/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250310081414/https://web.archive.org/web/20230810043122/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fraudulent-electors-memo-kenneth-chesebro-trump-indictment/ |archive-date=March 10, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>|name=TrumpFakeElectors}} After the submission of these documents, the Trump campaign intended that the [[Presiding Officer of the United States Senate|presiding officer of the United States Senate]], either [[President of the Senate of the United States|President of the Senate]] Pence or [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate|President pro tempore]] [[Chuck Grassley]], would claim the unilateral power to reject [[United States Electoral College#Electors|electors]] during the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|January 6, 2021 vote counting session]]; the presiding officer would reject all electors from the several states for which the Trump campaign had submitted false documents, leaving 232 votes for Trump and 222 votes for Biden, thereby [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|overturning the election results]] in Trump's favor.{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name=JackSmithReportVol1 />{{Rp|pages=20-22}}<ref name=JanuarySixFinalReport />{{Rp|pages=343-346, 441-461}}<ref name="NYT-20230808">{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=Savage |first2=Charlie |last3=Broadwater |first3=Luke |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Previously Secret Memo Laid Out Strategy for Trump to Overturn Biden's Win - The House Jan. 6 committee's investigation did not uncover the memo, whose existence first came to light in last week's indictment. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/08/us/politics/trump-indictment-fake-electors-memo.html |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230809142035/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/08/us/politics/trump-indictment-fake-electors-memo.html |archivedate=August 9, 2023 |accessdate=August 10, 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chesebro |first=Kenneth |author-link=Kenneth Chesebro |date=December 13, 2020 |title=Brief notes on 'President of the Senate' strategy |url=https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000189-db0d-d1b8-adff-fb4f5ae70000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810095224/https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000189-db0d-d1b8-adff-fb4f5ae70000 |archive-date=2023-08-10 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Eastman |first=John |author-link=John Eastman |date=2021-01-03 |title=John Eastman's second memo on 'January 6 scenario' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/john-eastman-s-second-memo-on-january-6-scenario/b3fd2b0a-f931-4e0c-8bac-c82f13c2dd6f/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109134450/https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/john-eastman-s-second-memo-on-january-6-scenario/b3fd2b0a-f931-4e0c-8bac-c82f13c2dd6f/ |archive-date=2022-11-09 |access-date=2024-07-03 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Legare |first=Robert |date=2022-06-03 |title=Email to Giuliani reveals plan to keep Trump in office on Jan. 6, court records show |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-news-giuliani-kenneth-chesebro-email-plan-january-6/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250310081258/https://web.archive.org/web/20220604072331/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-news-giuliani-kenneth-chesebro-email-plan-january-6/ |archive-date=March 10, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Steck |first1=Em |last2=Kaczynski |first2=Andrew |author-link2=Andrew Kaczynski |last3=Cohen |first3=Marshall |last4=Gordon |first4=Allison |date=2024-02-26 |title=Exclusive: Key figure in fake electors plot concealed damning posts on secret Twitter account from investigators |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/26/politics/kenneth-chesebro-secret-twitter-account-kfile/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226211441/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/26/politics/kenneth-chesebro-secret-twitter-account-kfile/index.html |archive-date=2024-02-26 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-01 |title=Vice president doesn't have power to 'change the outcome' of elections |url=https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-275776015398 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250310084737/https://web.archive.org/web/20220202042946/https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-275776015398 |archive-date=March 10, 2025 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref>|name=UnilateralRejectionOfElectors}} This plan failed after Pence refused to cooperate with it.{{Efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name=JackSmithReportVol1 />{{Rp|pages=20-24}}<ref name=JanuarySixFinalReport />{{Rp|pages=461-462}}<ref name="Showdown">{{Cite web |last1=Swan |first1=Betsy Woodruff |last2=Cheney |first2=Kyle |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Inside Pence-world's preparation for a Jan. 6 legal showdown |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/30/pence-jan-6-legal-showdown-00021864 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331010734/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/30/pence-jan-6-legal-showdown-00021864 |archive-date=2022-03-31 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Glantz, Aaron |last2=The Center for Investigative Reporting |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Read Pence's full letter saying he can't claim 'unilateral authority' to reject electoral votes |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-pences-full-letter-saying-he-cant-claim-unilateral-authority-to-reject-electoral-votes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106190245/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/read-pences-full-letter-saying-he-cant-claim-unilateral-authority-to-reject-electoral-votes |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=[[PBS NewsHour]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>|name=PenceRefusesToRejectElectors}} Trump nevertheless urged his supporters on January 6 to march to the [[United States Capitol|Capitol]] while the joint session of Congress was assembled there to count electoral votes and formalize Biden's victory, whereupon [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|hundreds of people stormed]] the building and interrupted the count. During the attack, Biden addressed the nation, calling the events "an unprecedented assault unlike anything we've seen in modern times".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/politics/biden-speaks-capitol-riots/|title=Joe Biden Calls on Donald Trump to 'Step Up' amid Chaos Led by 'Extremists' at Capitol |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |first=Lindsay |last=Kimble |date=January 6, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126224534/https://people.com/politics/biden-speaks-capitol-riots/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Will |last1=Weissert |first2=Darlene |last2=Superville |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-us-capitol-c68378d16055c53e3942da66e968ea6b |title=Biden urges restoring decency after 'assault' on democracy |work=[[Associated Press News]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129142525/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-us-capitol-c68378d16055c53e3942da66e968ea6b |url-status=live}}</ref> After the Capitol was cleared, Congress officially counted the election results, with Pence, in his role as president of the Senate, announcing Biden and Harris as the winners.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/congress-count-electoral-college-votes-biden-win/6556555002/ |last1=King |first1=Ledyard |last2=Groppe |first2=Maureen |last3=Wu |first3=Nicholas |last4=Jansen |first4=Bart |last5=Subramanian |first5=Courtney |last6=Garrison |first6=Joey |title=Pence confirms Biden as winner, officially ending electoral count after day of violence at Capitol |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |access-date=January 7, 2021 |date=January 6, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107100543/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/congress-count-electoral-college-votes-biden-win/6556555002/}}</ref> On January 7, Trump acknowledged the incoming administration without mentioning Biden's name.<ref>* {{Cite web |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Biden sets to work on reversing Trump policies with executive orders |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55738746 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210190233/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55738746 |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |access-date=January 21, 2021 |website=[[BBC News]]}}
* {{Cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |last2=Stracqualursi |first2=Veronica |last3=Malloy |first3=Allie |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Trump publicly acknowledges he won't serve a second term day after inciting mob |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/politics/trump-biden-us-capitol-electoral-college-insurrection/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107095401/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/07/politics/trump-biden-us-capitol-electoral-college-insurrection/index.html |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |work=[[CNN]]}}
* {{Cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Zeke |last2=Colvin |first2=Jill |date=January 8, 2021 |title=After excusing violence, Trump acknowledges Biden transition |url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-orderly-transition-f03215c31a400f815a8f62960a430063 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107202934/https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-orderly-transition-f03215c31a400f815a8f62960a430063 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press News]]}}</ref>