The US presidential election was watched by people all over the world. The vote count took time, and some states were slow to announce the results, but on the morning of the 7th, the fourth day after the election, the victory of Joe Biden, the Democrat who ran against the current President Trump, was confirmed.
Following this result, Prime Minister Ardern immediately sent congratulatory messages to Biden and Harris, who ran alongside Biden in the election as his vice presidential candidate.
Updated Twitter for the first time in a year and a half
This is Prime Minister Ardern's Twitter. The Prime Minister has mainly been using Instagram recently, so this is the first time she's updated her Twitter since May of last year. It seems that she wants to make sure that this message is conveyed to her and to the world.
Congratulations President-elect @JoeBiden & @KamalaHarris on your victory in the US Presidential election. With so many issues facing the international community, your message of unity is one we share. New Zealand looks forward to working with you both! https://t.co/VTGRM4mHEK
— Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) November 7, 2020
Prime Minister Ardern sent a message of congratulations
With so many issues facing the international community, your message of unity is one we share. New Zealand looks forward to working with you both!
"Your message of unity resonates with us at a time when the world is facing so many challenges. New Zealand looks forward to working with you both!"
I told him that.
Release from the Government Public Relations Department
Here is the official government press release.
The following translation:
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sent a message of congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
"The relationship between our two countries is very strong, and I look forward to seeing it become even stronger under the Biden Administration.
As Vice President, Biden was a close friend of New Zealand and visited the country in 2016, the first White House guest to visit the country since former President Bill Clinton at APEC in 1999.
New Zealand will continue to work with the United States to address a range of mutual concerns, including economic development, national security, and sustainability in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific regions and the Pacific Island countries.
We also believe that the global challenges that Mr. Biden stressed throughout the election campaign, such as the new coronavirus and climate change, are equally important.
"There are many challenges facing the world today, but Biden's message of unity will help us rise to these challenges."
Ardern also spoke about President Trump
"New Zealand has enjoyed a positive and collaborative relationship with the United States under the Trump Administration, particularly in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific region and on the Pacific Island countries."
He said.
This is a photo of Biden's visit to New Zealand, posted on Prime Minister Ardern's Instagram along with a congratulatory message.
Comments on morning talk shows
On Monday morning, after the weekend in which Biden's victory was confirmed, Prime Minister Ardern appeared on a morning talk show. Despite being the prime minister, she appeared on a TV show in a very casual manner, so please take a look at the first 20 seconds of the video in this article!
Host Duncan Garner asked Prime Minister Ardern to comment on President Trump's baseless claims of election fraud.
The post was intended to elicit critical comments from Prime Minister Ardern about President Trump, but she responded by saying,
If we were to hear leaders of other countries commenting on our own country's elections, we would naturally not be too pleased, so we are being careful with our comments.
He casually dodged the question.
The host still persists, asking for some comment.
It's not my job to make personal comments.
"Smack," he said.
Former cricketer Mark Richardson, who was watching the exchange in the studio, stepped in and said,
Well played by the PM - Duncan was clearly trying to generate international headlines (if Ardern criticised Trump that would be news) and I think she dodged it well.
It was highly praised.
In fact, Mark Richardson is often outspoken and often throws arguments at the Prime Minister. In the past, he also asked Ardern (who was still only the Labour Party leader at the time) some inappropriate questions and was criticized for them. That's why he made the news when he praised the Prime Minister, which was a rare occurrence.
During the morning interview, Prime Minister Ardern noted that Vice President Biden has visited New Zealand in the past, and stressed that this will further strengthen relations between New Zealand and the United States.
