Harris Prepares Speech Following Congratulatory Call to Trump on Election Win

Kamala Harris is scheduled to address the American public later on Wednesday, having previously contacted Donald Trump to extend her congratulations on his presidential election victory. The Democratic candidate, who was defeated, spoke with her opponent on Wednesday afternoon. A Harris aide informed journalists that their discussion centered on “the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans.” Harris had canceled her anticipated election night appearance at Howard University in Washington DC as her chances of winning diminished. The current vice-president is now expected to deliver her speech at the same location at 16:00 EST (21:00 GMT). She did not concede on election night, even though it became apparent by the early hours of Wednesday that her Republican challenger had secured sufficient votes in crucial swing states to win. Trump has now clinched enough key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, to secure the presidency, with several states still awaiting official declarations. Trump is also leading Harris in the popular vote, marking the first time a Republican has led nationally since George W Bush in 2004. In a released statement, Trump characterized his victory as one “our country has never seen before.” He assured voters, “I will fight for you, for your family, and your future. Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.” He pledged to “unlock America’s glorious destiny” and promised that his presidency would usher in “the golden age of America.” As anticipated, Trump achieved a decisive victory in conservative strongholds across the US, while Harris secured liberal states ranging from New York to California. Harris experienced a surge in popularity after becoming the Democratic Party’s nominee in June, following Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in the initial presidential debate. Her campaign aimed to present a more optimistic outlook compared to Trump’s portrayal of American decline, with a significant focus on safeguarding abortion rights. Trump, conversely, frequently launched highly personal attacks against Harris throughout the campaign, referring to the vice-president as “stupid,” “lazy,” and “dumb as a rock.” He also raised questions about her racial identity during the early phases of the campaign. In a communication to staff, Jen O’Malley Dillion, Harris’ campaign chair, conveyed that losing the election was “unfathomably hard” and would require a “long time to process.” She stated in an email, which was obtained by the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, “But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump presidency starts now.” She added, “I know the vice president isn’t finished in this fight, and I know the very people on this email are also going to be leaders in this collective mission.” The former California senator was vying to become the first woman, black woman, and South Asian-American to attain the presidency. Exit poll data indicates that the Democratic nominee might have performed below expectations among women voters. Approximately 54% of female voters cast their ballots for her, which is less than the 57% of women who supported Joe Biden in 2020. Black and Latino voters also appeared to show slightly less support for Harris compared to their backing for Biden four years prior, according to exit poll data. The campaign occasionally faced criticism for its perceived failure to articulate a clear economic message, an issue of considerable importance to Americans who have endured several years of escalating inflation. Around 86 million voters cast their ballots early during what was one of the most tumultuous campaigns in recent American history. The Republican party experienced a resurgence nationwide, securing numerous key congressional victories in important states and regaining control of the Senate. Republicans took two seats from Democrats in West Virginia and Ohio and successfully fended off a strong challenge in Texas. Neither party seemed to hold a decisive advantage in the House, which Republicans currently control by a narrow margin. Should the party regain control of both legislative chambers, it would facilitate Trump’s ability to advance his agenda, which includes mass deportations of illegal migrants and significant tax reductions. Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent, offers insights into the presidential race in his twice-weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.