Trump hints at stepping down for first time

In his first official appearance since the US presidential election, Donald Trump on Friday hinted at the possibility of not securing a second term but fell short of a formal concession to President-elect Joe Biden.

The US president said that "whatever happens" his administration won’t order new lockdowns and that only "time will tell" if another administration would impose one.

"Ideally we won't go to a lockdown," Trump said. "I will not go. This administration will not be going to a lockdown.

"Hopefully, whatever happens in the future, who knows which administration it will be, I guess time will tell..."

Appearing to realize the implication of discussing what a Biden administration would do, Trump reiterated: "This administration will not be going to a lockdown.''

Biden reaches 306 electoral votes

Last Saturday, Democrat Joe Biden was projected as the winner of the presidential election and has since gone on to pick up more electoral votes in undecided states, bringing him to a total of 306 electoral votes against Trump's 232.

The Trump campaign has launched a series of legal challenges in various states over accusations of electoral fraud, but many have so far fallen flat.

Trump, who was hospitalized with COVID-19, has consistently played down the pandemic, which has globally killed 1.3 million people and infected more than 53 million, including over 244,000 deaths and 10 million infections in the US. But on Friday, as states impose new restrictions while infections surge in the country, Trump appealed to citizens to remain "vigilant."

Biden has not endorsed a nationwide lockdown but in a statement on Friday called on Trump to take "urgent action" in fighting the virus.

Read more: After Trump's loss: What does the future hold for Republicans?

Trump vows Americans will get vaccine

Trump also said a coronavirus vaccine could be available to the public as soon as April next year.

He said a vaccine would ship "in a matter of weeks" to vulnerable populations. 

The Food and Drug Administration, however, has not yet been asked to grant the necessary emergency approvals, scientific head of Operation Warp Speed Moncef Slaoui said two vaccines and two therapeutics may be granted emergency use by the end of the year.

Speaking next to Trump, the former head of GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccine department said he expects to have enough vaccines to immunize 20 million Americans in December and another 20 million a month later.

Slaoui vouched for the safety of the vaccines in development.

"While we are not there yet, we are close to the objective'' to having a vaccine ready for deployment by the end of 2020, he said.

Despite Trump's partial acknowledgment of defeat, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump is "not even at that point yet'' when it comes to conceding to Biden.

ab, mvb/mm (AP, dpa, Reuters)