Kamala Harris formally concedes election to Donald Trump, vows to 'never give up fighting'

After a rough defeat in the 2024 US presidential elections, US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her concession speech to the former US President and the new President-Elect Donald Trump. While Harris congratulated Trump for his win, she vowed to keep fighting for the issues that she campaigned on.

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” the vice president said on Wednesday, the day after the polls were called. “The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best. That is a fight I will never give up," she added.

We must accept the results of this election.

Earlier today, I spoke with President Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I told him that we will help him and his team with that transition, and we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 6, 2024

Tune in to watch Vice President Kamala Harris deliver remarks to America https://t.co/Xv1GJHk37K

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 6, 2024

Harris delivered her remarks at her alma mater, Howard University, during, which she also encouraged a peaceful transfer of power. The address came a day after she opted out from addressing the crowd on the election nights, with hopes that the results might turn in her favour.

‘Do not despair’: Harris 

In her sombre remarks, the vice president maintained that she and the Democratic Party will continue to respect the Constitution of the United States. “We owe loyalty not to a president or a party but to the Constitution of the United States and loyalty to our conscious and our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” Harris said to a crowd of supporters.

She mentioned her telephonic conversation with Trump and urged the crowd to “not despair” over the results. “I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now, I get it. But we must accept the results of this election,” Harris averred. “I told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,”  she furthered.

She encouraged her voters to remain optimistic admitting that the US is entering a “dark time”.

“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,” she 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.”

“To everyone who is watching, do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves,” she added, calling on her supporters to stay engaged.

She expressed her gratitude to her supporters, staff and US President Joe Biden. “My 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,” she said. “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, hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”

“I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it, and the way we ran it over the 107 days of this campaign. We have been intentional about building community and building coalitions, bringing people together from every walk of life and background, united by a love of country with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America’s future,” the vice president asserted.

Harris’s VP pick and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife Gwen Walz were present in the audience as Harris delivered her remarks. Harris’s step-children Cole and Ella, and the rest of her family took a seat near them.

According to The Hill, both Harris and Walz are expected to host an all-staff call with her campaign team after her remarks at Howard. Harris came out to her signature campaign song, Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” clapping, waving and smiling along with supporters in the crowd. Meanwhile, Biden watched her address from the West Wing.

Meanwhile, Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, said in a statement that Harris congratulated the former president during a call and the new president-elect lauded her strength. “President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country,” Cheung said.

It is pertinent to note that the former president did not concede his own 2020 election defeat to Biden and spent years pushing false claims that the 2020 polls were stolen.

This is a developing story.