WASHINGTON _ Less than 12 hours after Donald Trump shocked the world by becoming president-elect, outgoing President Barack Obama said he is "rooting" for the former reality television's star "success" in the Oval Office.
"The sun is up," Obama said in the White House Rose Garden in a message to Democrats, who were floored by Trump's wide margin of victory in the Electoral College. He also promised to oversee a peaceful transition of power to the Trump administration, saying he has invited the president-elect to the White House on Thursday to discuss that process.
The orderly hand-off of power from one president to another is a "hallmark" of the American system, Obama said, adding "we're going to show that to the world."
The president urged all Americans to "remember we're all on one team," calling the campaign and election "an intramural scrimmage."
"We all want what's best for this country," Obama said. "That's what I heard in Mr. Trump's (victory speech) remarks, (and) what I heard when I spoke to him."
Obama said he was "heartened" by Trump's softer tone after he had secured the necessary 270 electoral votes to become the 45th president, and in a phone call after that speech.
