For Biden, Trump's refusal to admit defeat is "embarrassing"

Donald Trump's refusal to concede presidential defeat is "an embarrassment" but will "not have much of an impact" on the transition of power, US President-elect Joe Biden said on Tuesday.

“I think it's an embarrassment, honestly,” the Democrat replied to a reporter who asked him about the Republican billionaire's attitude.

"Mr. President, I can't wait to talk to you"

"I believe it will not serve the president's legacy," he added from his home in Wilmington, Delaware.

But "the fact that they (the Republicans) do not want to recognize at this stage that we have won does not have much impact on our program" of transition, he said.

To a reporter who asked him what he would say to Donald Trump if he was watching his press conference, Joe Biden replied, staring at the camera and with a smile: "Mr. President, I can't wait to talk to you ".

America's "return"

Meanwhile, Joe Biden said America was "back" on the world stage and said he was "confident" in its ability to restore international "respect" to his country.

The Democrat said he spoke to six world leaders.

"I told them America is back", "it's not America alone anymore".

Their response was very "enthusiastic (...) so I have confidence, we will succeed in restoring the respect that America enjoyed before", he added. 

"Revitalize bilateral and transatlantic relations"

Among the six leaders mentioned by Joe Biden, there is Emmanuel Macron.

The elected president told the French head of state that he wanted to "revitalize bilateral and transatlantic relations, especially through NATO and the European Union", often abused by Donald Trump.

During their first telephone exchange, the two men also spoke of their future cooperation on the fight against the pandemic and "the threat of climate change", as well as on "security and development in Africa".