Set to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power
In an emotional speech at her alma mater, Howard University, Vice President Kamala Harris officially conceded the 2024 presidential race to Donald Trump. Speaking on Wednesday evening from the Washington, DC campus, she acknowledged the outcome of a hard-fought campaign that ended in significant defeats across several battleground states that had favored President Joe Biden just four years prior.
“My heart is full today,” Harris expressed to her supporters. “Full of gratitude for the trust you’ve placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve.”
Although the results were not what she and her supporters had hoped for, Harris emphasized the enduring promise of America. “The outcome of this election was not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” she said. “But hear me when I say: the light of America’s promise will always burn bright, and as long as we never give up, and as long as we keep fighting.”
Both candidates confirmed that they had spoken on Wednesday. According to Trump’s campaign communications director, Steven Cheung, Harris extended her congratulations to Trump on his historic win. Cheung added, “President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris for her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.”
Declaring victory in the early hours of Tuesday, Trump described his win as a “political triumph our country has never seen before” and promised a “golden age” for the nation.
In her speech, Harris assured that the Biden-Harris administration stands ready to facilitate a “peaceful transfer of power,” a commitment she underscored as essential to American democracy. Drawing a subtle contrast to Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, which culminated in the Capitol riots, she said, “That peaceful transition distinguishes us from monarchy and tyranny.”
Harris highlighted a core tenet of democracy: “A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it. We owe loyalty not to a president or a party but to the Constitution of the United States.”
Although she accepted the loss, Harris assured her supporters that she would not give up on the fight that had driven her campaign. “Despair is not an option,” she said, invoking her campaign’s rallying cry: “When we fight, we win.” She reminded her audience that meaningful change often takes time.
“To the young people who are watching: it is OK to feel sad and disappointed,” she said, offering words of encouragement. “But please know it’s going to be OK.”
Harris, who had the chance to make history as the first female president, left her supporters with a message of hope: “Never let anyone tell you something is impossible just because it has never been done before.”
