Biden calls for the nation to ‘unite, heal and rebuild in 2021’

President-elect Joe Biden shared a New Year’s Eve message on Twitter on Thursday calling for the nation to “unite, heal and rebuild in 2021.”

“The challenges we face as a nation will not disappear overnight, but as we look forward to the start of a new year, I’m filled with fresh hope about the possibilities of better days to come,” he wrote.

The challenges we face as a nation will not disappear overnight, but as we look forward to the start of a new year, I’m filled with fresh hope about the possibilities of better days to come.

After a year of pain and loss, let us unite, heal, and rebuild in 2021.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 31, 2020

Biden’s post comes as the U.S. seeks to turn the page on a particularly tough year when millions of Americans have experienced hardship. During 2020, the nation grappled with the coronavirus pandemic that has infected more than 19 million people and killed more than 344,000 according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 

The various shutdowns that occurred in an effort to mitigate the coronavirus also led to thousands of businesses, small and large, to shutter. Nearly 10.7 million people across the country lost their jobs as a result. 

In addition, America in 2020 saw months of social unrest as nationwide protests erupted over the deaths of Black Americans George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. 

The president-elect’s message of unity has been consistent throughout most of 2020. During the Democratic primary earlier this year, the former vice president touted his relationships he made across the aisle during his time in the White House and as a member of the U.S. Senate.

He maintained that he could make deals to get things done for the American people and serve as a uniting force in a country that appears to be politically divided. 

Shortly after his win in this year’s presidential election, Biden immediately called for Americans to come together.

“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation,” Biden said in November. “It’s time for America to unite. And to heal.”

Several lawmakers, including Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Tom Graves (R-Ga.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), also took to Twitter on Thursday to share messages of hope and encouragement in preparation for 2021.

“It’s the last day of 2020. Hope you and yours stay healthy, warm, and safe. Cheers to brighter days ahead and more time together in 2021,” Reed wrote.