Joe Biden delivered what was described as “a Thanksgiving address on the shared sacrifices Americans are making this holiday season and how we’ll get through this crisis together.” The message expressed both inspiration and empathy. It’s a message quite different than we have heard from the current president over the last nine months:

“There’s real hope. Tangible hope. So hang on. Don’t let yourself surrender to the fatigue… I know we can and we will beat this virus. America’s not going to lose this war. We’ll get our lives back. Life is going to return to normal, I promise you. This will happen. This will not last forever. So yes it’s been a really hard year, particularly hard for over 250,000 people and their families. But I still believe we have much to be thankful for.”

The president-elect also let people who have lost loved ones to coronavirus know that he can sympathize with what they are going through.

“For those who have lost a loved one, I know that this time of year can be particularly difficult. Believe me, I know. I remember the first Thanksgiving and the empty chair, the silence. It takes your breath away.”

Watch the full speech above.