WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris lastly conceded her blowout election loss to former President Donald Trump Wednesday — consoling supporters and saying she would “by no means hand over the combat” regardless of accepting the result.
“To the younger people who find themselves watching, it’s OK to really feel unhappy and disillusioned, however please comprehend it’s going to be OK,” Harris, 60, stated in late afternoon remarks on the campus of Howard College, her alma mater — hours after calling Trump, 78, to supply congratulations.
“On the marketing campaign, I’d typically say, ‘Once we combat, we win.’ However right here’s the factor: Generally the combat takes some time. That doesn’t imply we received’t win.”
“The vital factor is, don’t ever hand over,” the veep went on.
“Don’t ever cease attempting to make the world a greater place. You could have energy and don’t you ever pay attention when anybody tells you one thing is unimaginable as a result of it has by no means been executed earlier than.”
Harris, who would have been the primary feminine president and first lady of shade to be commander in chief, misplaced or was trailing Trump in all seven very important swing states Wednesday night and was on monitor to be the primary Democratic nominee lose the favored vote in 20 years — along with her loss and congressional defeats elevating doubt about who will lead the get together for the subsequent 4 years.
Former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who set in movement Harris’ 107-day failed candidacy by serving to power President Biden to relinquish the Democratic nomination in July, was amongst those that attended Harris’ 11-minute concession speech.
The defeated Harris recycled many well-worn stump traces as Biden, 81, remained out of public view for the second day in a row.
“I’ll by no means hand over the combat for a future the place People can pursue their goals, ambitions and aspirations, the place the ladies of America have the liberty to make choices about their very own physique and never have their authorities telling them what to do,” the vp stated.
“We are going to by no means hand over the combat to guard our colleges and our streets from gun violence,” she declared.
“Don’t despair. This isn’t a time to throw up our fingers. This can be a time to roll up our sleeves.”
The group booed as Harris advised them that “earlier right this moment, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory,” however then cheered when she added: “I additionally advised him that we’ll assist him and his staff with their transition, and that we’ll have interaction in a peaceable switch of energy.”
“A basic precept of American democracy is that after we lose an election, we settle for the outcomes. That precept, as a lot as another, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. And anybody who seeks the general public belief should honor it,” she stated, working in an implicit dig at Trump’s conduct after shedding the 2020 election to Biden.
“On the similar time, in our nation, we owe loyalty, to not a president or a celebration, however to the Structure of the US, and and loyalty to our conscience and to our God, my allegiance to all three is why I’m right here to say, whereas I concede this election, I don’t concede the combat that fueled this marketing campaign,” she stated.
“And we’ll proceed to wage this combat within the voting sales space, within the courts and within the public sq., and we may even wage it in quieter methods: In how we dwell our lives, by treating each other with kindness and respect, by wanting within the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbor, by at all times utilizing our power to carry individuals as much as combat for the dignity that each one individuals deserve.”
Hours earlier, Harris had declined to deal with 1000’s of shocked supporters who had gathered for an Election Evening watch get together on the similar venue after it grew to become clear that Trump was on target to turn into the forty seventh president.
“I’ll shut with this,” Harris stated.
“There’s an adage a historian as soon as known as a legislation of historical past, true of each society throughout the ages. The adage is: Solely when it’s darkish sufficient are you able to see the celebrities.”
“I do know many individuals really feel like we’re coming into a darkish time, however for the good thing about us all, I hope that isn’t the case. However right here’s the factor, America, whether it is, allow us to fill the sky with the sunshine of an excellent, good, billion of stars — the sunshine of optimism, of religion, of reality and repair,” she concluded.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump’s marketing campaign launched a press release praising Harris after she known as to concede.
Trump “acknowledged Vice President Harris on her power, professionalism, and tenacity all through the marketing campaign, and each leaders agreed on the significance of unifying the nation,” spokesman Steven Cheung stated.
Trump’s victory — coupled with Republicans retaking the Senate and seeming poised to carry the Home — places in movement a resumption of his populist agenda, together with harder insurance policies on unlawful immigration and commerce disputes, plus plans to chop taxes on ideas, time beyond regulation and Social Safety advantages.
The billionaire developer-turned-politician has vowed to complete off excessive inflation, permitting for decrease rates of interest, whereas pulling again on foreign-focused spending along with his “America first” mantra — together with by quickly negotiating an finish to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
A victorious Trump addressed a rapturous celebration in West Palm Seashore, Fla., within the wee hours of Wednesday after Fox Information grew to become the primary main outlet to mission his victory.
“There’s by no means been something like this on this nation, and possibly past,” the Republican nominee declared.
“We’re going to assist our nation heal,” Trump added, “and it wants assist very badly. We’re going to repair our borders … repair all the pieces about our nation.”
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