“I Concede the Election, Not the Fight…”: Kamala Harris Concedes Presidential Election to Donald Trump

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris conceded the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump following a fiercely contested election. Speaking at Howard University in Washington, her alma mater, Harris acknowledged her loss but made it clear that she was not giving up on the core values that fueled her campaign. "I Concede the Election, Not the Fight,” said Harris.

"While I concede the election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," Harris told her supporters in a speech that lasted less than 15 minutes. "This fight for freedom, opportunity, and dignity for all people continues," she added. Harris urged her supporters to stay committed to the cause, saying, "Keep fighting."

In her emotional address, Harris called for optimism in what many reportedly perceived as a bleak political moment. "Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars," she said. "I know many people feel we are entering a dark time, but let us fill the sky with the light of billions and billions of stars—the light of truth, optimism, and service,” said Kamala Harris.

In addition, she acknowledged that the outcome was not what her team had hoped for, but she emphasized that the promise of America remained strong. "The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say that the light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and keep fighting,” she said.

Despite her personal disappointment, Harris stressed the importance of respecting the election results and ensuring a smooth transition of power. "We must accept the results of this election," she stated. Earlier in the day, she had called President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his victory. "I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition, and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,” said. Had Harris won, she would have made history as the first woman to hold the office of President.

Trump's win came after one of the most hostile campaigns in modern U.S. history, which included personal and political battles, as well as unprecedented challenges, including a criminal conviction and an assassination attempt. Despite these obstacles, Trump secured a victory with even wider margins than in his previous election. At 78, Trump will become the oldest president in U.S. history when he is inaugurated on January 20. In his victory speech, Trump described his win as "a political victory that our country has never seen before."