Joe Biden is set to become the 46th president of the United States, capping a tumultuous and tension-filled campaign during a historic pandemic against President Donald Trump. ABC News characterized Joe Biden as the apparent winner of his home state of Pennsylvania, putting him over the 270 vote threshold needed to capture the presidency.
The hard-fought battle against the president was set against the backdrop of racial unrest and the coronavirus pandemic and bitter divisions among the electorate.
Trump had falsely declared on election night, when he held a lead in several key states, that he won the contest and alleged without evidence, after the count started to swing the other way, that the election was being stolen from him and that fraud had been committed.
Painting the election as a "battle for the soul of the nation," Biden won on a message of unity over division, compassion over anger, and reality over what he called Trump's "wishful thinking" as the coronavirus pandemic cast a heavy shadow over the campaign.
Here's how election week unfolded. All times Eastern.
Nov 07, 2020, 12:44 PM EST
Trump says 'election is far from over'
Trump, who is golfing on Saturday, released a defiant statement through his campaign, claiming, "this election is far from over."
President Donald Trump participates in a round of golf at the Trump National Golf Course, Nov. 7, 2020, in Sterling, Va.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Trump blasted Biden for "rushing to falsely pose as the winner."
Following media projections, Biden changed his Twitter bio to "President-elect." Biden said in a statement Saturday, "I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me."
Trump also touted the coming legal fight.
"Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated," he said. "The American People are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots."
The president again pushed unfounded claims that "Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access."
Asked if Trump would call Biden to concede, White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere said: “No scheduling updates. The campaign has released a statement from the president.”
Nov 07, 2020, 11:29 AM EST
Joe Biden set to become next president
ABC News can characterize Joe Biden as the apparent winner in Pennsylvania -- a win that makes him president-elect. Based on these numbers and those in other states, Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States.
ABC News was able to characterize Biden as the apparent winner of Pennsylvania after the state, as of 11:35 a.m., put Biden ahead with 49.6% (3,345,724 votes) over Trump's 49.1% (3,311,310 votes).
Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris listens as Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks, Nov. 6, 2020, in Wilmington, Del.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Biden was at home with his family when he learned of the news, a Biden aide told ABC News. Biden is expected to address the nation Saturday night.
Biden said in a statement Saturday, "I am honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect Harris. In the face of unprecedented obstacles, a record number of Americans voted. Proving once again, that democracy beats deep in the heart of America. With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together."
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in Wilmington, Del.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Saturday marks 48 years to the day that Biden was elected in his first Senate race. Biden, then 29 years old, won his first Senate election on Nov. 7, 1972.
For first time in history, the first and second in line to the presidency will be women: Sen. Kamala Harris as vice president followed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Harris tweeted a video showing her on the phone with Biden. "We did it, Joe," she said. "You're going to be the next president of the United States."
Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, tweeted, "So proud of you."
Harris spoke on the phone Saturday with former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The White House declined to comment on several news organizations projecting Biden as the apparent winner.
President Donald Trump watches from his limousine as he returns from playing golf to the White House in Washington on Nov. 7, 2020, following news that Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election by major news organizations.
Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump returns from playing golf to the White House in Washington, Nov. 7, 2020, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the Presidential Election by major news organizations.
Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Nov 07, 2020, 11:18 AM EST
Biden leads Arizona by 20,573
Biden is leading Arizona by 20,573 votes after Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, dropped 48,517 more ballots Saturday morning.
Arizona elections officials continue to count ballots inside the Maricopa County Recorder's Office, Nov. 6, 2020, in Phoenix.
Matt York/AP
Biden is at 49.5% compared to Trump's 48.9%.
About 43,000 ballots are still outstanding in Maricopa County.
Arizona has 11 Electoral College votes.
In a tweet Saturday morning, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs defended the flow of information coming from her office throughout the election.
-ABC News' Meg Cunningham
Nov 07, 2020, 10:55 AM EST
President arrives at Trump National Golf Club, falsely tweets he won
The president arrived at his Trump National Golf Club Saturday morning as his path to securing reelection continues to narrow.
Trump falsely tweeted Saturday morning "I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!" Twitter flagged the tweet saying, "Official sources may not have called the race when this was Tweeted."
ABC News projects Trump has 214 Electoral College votes while Biden has 253. Biden is ahead in four out of five key states still counting votes.
President Donald Trump departs the White House heading for an undisclosed location, in Washington, Nov. 7, 2020. Votes continue to be counted in some key states after the presidential election on Nov. 3.
