"Don't ever give up": Harris addresses nation after stunning loss to Trump
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VP Harris arrives to speak on stage at Howard University on Nov. 6 in Washington, DC. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
From the grounds of her HBCU alma mater, Vice President Harris on Wednesday committed to accepting the results of the presidential election, striking the optimistic tone that underscored her accelerated campaign.
Why it matters: Harris' resounding loss to President-elect Trump has stunned the Democratic Party and minority of the overall electorate who voted for her. Still, she urged her supporters to organize and not give up.
- Harris appeared publicly for the first time in Washington, D.C., hours after Trump decisively reclaimed the White House.
- She told supporters her "heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country and full of resolve."
Driving the news: "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for," Harris said during 15-minute remarks that started after her campaign's de facto theme song, Beyoncé's "Freedom."
- "But hear me when I say, the light of American's promise will always burn bright, as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting."
- "While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign." Harris said that she has told Trump that she will help with a peaceful transfer of power. "We must accept the results of this election," she said.
Zoom in: Addressing the young people in attendance, Harris said: "It is ok to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it is going to be ok."
- "Here's the thing, sometimes the fight takes a while," she said. "That doesn't mean we won't win, the important thing is, don't ever give up, don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place."
- "I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case," Harris said.
- "But here's the thing: America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service."
State of play: Harris called her rival earlier on Wednesday to congratulate him, per a senior Harris aide.
- President Biden also spoke via phone to Harris and Trump. The president invited Trump to the White House and committed to a smooth transition, per a pool report.
The big picture: Harris ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket over the summer after Biden suspended his campaign. She had already made history as the first woman and woman of color to serve as vice president.
- Ultimately, her 100-day campaign blitz could not overcome the political realignment that dealt Democratic losses up and down the ballot -- and voters' intense desire for change, Axios' Zach Basu and Mike Allen report.
Go deeper: Election 2024: The sun rises on Trump's resurgent MAGA era
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional developments.
