US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered an emotional speech to her supporters at Howard University after Donald Trump secured a second term in office. Despite the loss, she expressed gratitude and hope for the future of the country.
Trump crossed the 270-majority mark, winning a crucial victory in Wisconsin. Harris, however, remained optimistic, stating, “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. 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, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”
Harris took time to thank those who supported her throughout the campaign. She expressed her deep appreciation for her husband, Douglas Emhoff, President Joe Biden, and his family, as well as her running mate, Governor Tim Walz. “To my beloved Doug and our family, I love you so very much. To President Biden and Dr. Biden, thank you for your faith and support. To Governor Walz and the Walz family, I know your service to our nation will continue. And to my extraordinary team, to the volunteers who gave so much of themselves, to the poll workers and the local election officials. I thank you all,” she said.
Harris reflected on the campaign with pride, emphasizing how it brought people together. She said, “I am so proud of the race we ran 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, by the love of country, with enthusiasm and joy in our fight for America’s future.”
She acknowledged the mixed emotions of her supporters but urged them to accept the results of the election. “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,” she added.
Harris then shared that she had spoken with President-elect Trump, congratulating him on his win. She emphasized that the peaceful transfer of power is essential to democracy. “Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated 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.”
While conceding the election, Harris made it clear that her fight for certain values would not end. “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 said.
She specifically mentioned her commitment to women’s rights, saying, “I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions, and aspirations. Where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body and not have their government telling them what to do.”
Harris also addressed the need to continue the fight for equality and justice in many areas of life. “We will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts, and in the public square. And we will also wage it in quieter ways, in how we live our lives, by treating one another with kindness and respect, by looking in the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbour.”
Harris reminded everyone that while the fight for freedom requires hard work, it is always worth it. “The fight for our freedom will take hard work, but like I always say, we like hard work. Hard work is good work. Hard work can be joyful work. And the fight for our country is always worth it.”
She also encouraged young people to remain hopeful and stay engaged. “To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed. But please know it’s going to be okay. On the campaign, I would often say, when we fight, we win. But here’s the thing, here’s the thing. Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is don’t ever give up.”
Drawing from her own experiences, Harris motivated her supporters to find inner strength. “Throughout my career, I saw people at some of the worst times in their lives. People who had suffered great harm and great pain. And yet found within themselves the strength and the courage and the resolve to take the stand, to fight for justice, to fight for themselves, to fight for others.”
Harris closed her speech with a hopeful message. “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. 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. But here’s the thing, America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars.”
Finally, Harris concluded with a prayer for the country. “May that work guide us, even in the face of setbacks, toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.”
Many of her supporters, including Aaron Carter, were deeply moved by her words. Carter shared, “I think Kamala’s [Harris] speech was uniting. She tried to be optimistic about the future, which was great. I hope she will be back here next time again for the Presidency. I think she was a great candidate as she managed to bring the really young crowd to support her. It was fantastic.”
