Trump defeats Harris, set to claim Arizona, Nevada; Joe Biden speech today; Republicans gain Senate control

In just a few hours US president Joe Biden is set to address the nation following the Democrats’ crushing defeat to Donald Trump.

The White House says Biden, who stepped aside from the presidential race in July, will speak at 11am local time, which is 3am in AEDT.

With debate now turning to the sitting president’s culpability in elevating Trump to a second presidency, Biden is expected to face further questions about whether he should have withdrawn from the contest sooner to make way for Kamala Harris or another candidate.

His June debate against Trump in the critical swing state of Georgia sent Democrats into panic after he appeared sluggish and appeared to lose his train of thought, worsening growing speculation his age was a critical hindrance amid a series of gaffes, including mixing up the leaders of Mexico and Egypt during a widely watched speech discussing the Middle East conflict.

After dropping out for Harris in July, he kept a relatively low campaign profile.

However in the final days of the campaign, Biden appeared to describe MAGA supporters as “garbage” – an interpretation he denied – but which caused Harris to distance herself from him during the last crucial moments of the race.

The Sydney Morning Herald publishing its view earlier tonight that while he achieved many things, his refusal to step aside earlier denied the Democrats a clear run at choosing his successor.