By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has called her rival, Republican Donald Trump, to concede defeat in the United State presidential election.
In Wednesday’s phone call, Harris congratulated Trump and also “discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power” and being a president for everyone in the country,” her aide said.
She was supposed to address the throng of supporters on the campus of her alma mater, Howard University, last night, but late in the evening her campaign director told the tearful crowd waiting outside that she would speak the next day after more results were in.
However they came back on Wednesday to show their support after her loss.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” she told supporters at her alma mater Howard University, a historically black college.
Harris pledged to continue fighting for women’s rights and against gun violence and to “fight for the dignity that all people deserve”.
She said she had called President-elect Trump, congratulated him on his triumph and promised to engage in a peaceful transfer of power.
Harris addressed a crowd that included former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, aides in President Joe Biden’s White House and thousands of fans who listened to a soundtrack that included Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” and Tye Tribbett’s “We Gon’ Be Alright”.
Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, joined the crowd.
Harris rose to the top of the Democratic ticket in July after Biden stepped aside and brought new-found enthusiasm and cash to the Democratic ticket, but struggled to overcome voters’ concerns about the economy and immigration.
Trump, who has been convicted of felony charges, has comfortably cleared the 270 Electoral-vote threshold required to clinch the White House.
Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together,” the White House said.
Biden phoned Harris too to congratulate her on her “historic campaign”.
He said he had won “an unprecedented and powerful mandate”.
Declaring victory earlier in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump told his supporters: “We’re going to help our country heal.
“We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly. We’re going to fix our borders. We’re going to fix everything about our country and we’ve made history for a reason tonight.”
He doubled down on his promise to crack down on illegal immigration and promised a “golden age of America”.
Away from the presidential race, Republicans have also retaken control of the US Senate, after flipping seats in West Virginia, Ohio and Montana.
Several races for seats in the House of Representatives remain undecided, but its control is also currently leaning Republican.
Reactions
Bill and Hillary Clinton release statement on Trump’s win.
Former President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – who was defeated by Donald Trump in 2016 – have released a joint statement reacting to the election result.
It reads: “The American people have voted, and Donald Trump and JD Vance will be the next president and vice president of the United States.
“We wish them well and hope they will govern for all of us.”
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his “heartiest congratulations” to his “friend” and said they would work together to “promote global peace, stability and prosperity”.
Brazilian President Lula Da Silva said he hopes Trump “cares about working for the world to have peace” and that his relationship with Brazil “will be civilised”.