The US Secretary of State’s remarks reflected Donald Trump and his administration’s ongoing refusal to accept the result of the vote on November 3.
Mr Pompeo told reporters with a grin that the “transition” to a second Trump term would be “smooth”. It was unclear if he was joking.
He also dismissed as “ridiculous” questions about whether the US had lost credibility as a judge of other countries’ election because of President Trump’s unproven claims of fraud at the polls.
“We’re ready. The world is watching what’s taking place here. We’re going to count all the votes.”
Appearing to indirectly admit that Mr Trump had lost, he said: “I went through a transition… I’ve been on the other side of this.”
He said the “world should have every confidence” that the State Department is “successful today” and that it will be “successful with the president who’s in office on January 20 a minute after noon”.
Meanwhile, president-elect Mr Biden said “nothing is going to stop” his administration moving forward, despite Mr Trump’s refusal to concede the race for the White House.
Mr Biden said that his transition is “well under way” and that he is reviewing potential Cabinet picks and other positions.
He said some Republicans’ denial of his victory “is not at much consequence in our plan and what we’re able to do between now and January 20”.
Asked by a reporter what he would say to President Trump, Mr Biden said: “Mr President, looking forward to speaking with you.”
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris emphasised Mr Biden’s margin of victory in the popular vote at a news conference on the new administration’s health plans.
She said Mr Biden “won the election decisively, with more votes than ever been cast in American history”
“Each and every vote for Joe Biden was a vote to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act-not to tear it away in the midst of a global pandemic,” she said.
