US Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly called President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to concede the US election and congratulate him on his victory.
Senior Harris aides told The Associated Press and Reuters that the vice president discussed the importance of a peaceful transition of power and being a president for all Americans in her phone call with Trump. The Associated Press quoted one of the aides, while Reuters quoted two.
According to Reuters, Harris is scheduled to deliver a “speech conceding the election to President-elect Donald Trump” at 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday.
Harris and Democrats were reckoning Wednesday with Americans’ rejection of their historic efforts to turn the page on both Trump and the unpopular Biden administration in which Harris served.
The vice president lagged in every contested state and failed to match the support that US President Joe Biden received in 2020 among key demographics.
Trump appeared on his way to winning the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House, even after he was impeached twice, convicted of felonies, and attempted to overturn his previous loss in the election.
The White House confirmed that Biden called Harris to congratulate her “on her historic campaign,” and also congratulated Trump on his victory.
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The White House said, “President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and stressed the importance of working to unify the country” in the call with Trump.
Biden’s office added that he also invited Trump to meet him at the White House, but this meeting has not been confirmed.
Harris had just over 100 days to turn around Democrats’ fortunes after Biden ended his re-election bid in July, following a disastrous debate performance against Trump, raising questions about his age and fitness for office.
She quickly jumped to the nomination without a proper party primary, but since many viewed Biden’s vice presidential nominee as his most logical successor.
Although Harris’ rise has energized Democrats and garnered a record $1 billion from donors in just three months, she has faced challenges that show how she will differ from Biden’s policies.
Trump has exploited the cost-of-living crisis caused by rising inflation under Biden, as well as rising confrontations at the US-Mexico border, forcing Harris to repeatedly defend her and Biden’s record as she struggled to explain how she would handle the matter. She will solve these issues herself.
The economy and immigration were among the top issues raised by voters in multiple polls on Election Day.
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