Zeman: Trump should 'give up', let Biden be US president

Prague, Nov 19 (CTK) -- In an interview with the Czech media Thursday, Czech President Milos Zeman advised Donald Trump to give up the dream and let US President-elect Joe Biden take up his rightful his post.

Trump, the 45th president of the US has refused to recognize the victory of Democratic rival Biden, slinging allegations of election fraud, demanding a recount of votes in some U.S. states and challenging the election results in court.

"It seems to me that it would be much more reasonable to give up, to not be embarrassed and let the new president occupy his post," Zeman said in an interview with Czech server Parlamentni listy.

Like most foreign heads of state, Zeman congratulated Biden on his election win on Nov. 7 after all major US media outlets called Biden's victory over Trump.

In his letter of congratulations to the president elect, Zeman attributed voter support for the Democrat candidate to trust in Biden's leadership skills, proved during his previous service to US citizens. He said voter turn out reflected a need for change. Zeman added that while Czech-US relations remain healthy, the country is prepared for some fresh blood via a new administration.

Zeman told Parlamentni listy that he found it surprising that the media announced Biden's victory, whereas in other countries including the Czech Republic, this is done by an electoral commission.

Other Czech politicians also expect the new administration to strengthen Czech-US relations as well as cooperation between the United States and Europe.

Zeman said it is necessary to wait at least six months to see how the politics of Biden and his administration would influence the bilateral relations of the two countries. 

"What is said before the elections is not always identical to what you say and do after the elections," he said.

Prior to the 2016 election, Czech president Miloš Zeman, told iDnes he would vote for Trump over Hillary Clinton. In the same interview he suggested that President Barack Obama's foreign policy led to a breakdown of relations in the Middle East. Following Trump's victory over Clinton, the Czech president sent a congratulatory letter to the then president elect and was later invited to the White House by Trump.