By Jonathan Weisman and Katie Rogers
On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledged her loss to President-elect Donald Trump, attempting to soothe her supporters’ grave concerns regarding the trajectory of American democracy, pledging that the pursuit of pluralism and equality would persist. “It’s going to be alright,” she reassured them.
“For all who are watching, do not lose hope,” she urged a jubilant assembly at her alma mater, Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington. “This is not a moment for defeatism. This is a moment to get to work.”
In a 12-minute speech marking the conclusion of a challenging 107-day presidential run, Harris endeavored to convey optimism while addressing the unease prevalent among a significant portion of the populace—though not a majority—concerning the nation’s impending challenges, with a leader in charge who has shown authoritarian tendencies to retaliate against his adversaries, exert control aggressively, and behave like a “dictator,” starting from Day 1.
She described accepting defeat as “a core tenet of American democracy,” making her point clear while failing to reference that her opponent had not done so four years prior. To her most anxious supporters, she shared a saying: “Only when the darkness is deep enough can you observe the stars.”
Trump has become the first former president in over 120 years to reclaim a second term following a reelection setback. His substantial gains nationwide enabled his party to secure control of the Senate. Control of the House remains undecided, but Republicans are likely to retain their slim majority, now with the party’s undisputed leader in the White House guiding the unruly House faction.
The Republican Senate majority was bolstered by the defeats of Democratic incumbents Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Jon Tester of Montana, alongside the acquisition of the West Virginia seat held by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin.
However, the Republican majority will not be as historically substantial as initially anticipated. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., narrowly edged out her Trump-endorsed rival, Eric Hovde. Additionally, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., triumphed in her bid to succeed retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow, preserving the seat for the Democrats. Senate races in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Arizona remained unresolved on Wednesday.
Regardless, Trump’s victory unequivocally signaled a surge in Republican power. Voters regarded Trump as the more capable leader for uncertain times and as someone they perceived as a reliable economic advocate. He capitalized on the concerns surrounding inflation and illegal immigration, pledging to usher in a strongman approach to governance. They overlooked his 34 felony charges, his role inciting a Capitol attack, and his indictments concerning efforts to overturn the 2020 election and retain classified materials.
Trump’s win, marked by one of the most tumultuous campaigns in recent history—including two attempted assassinations—makes him, at 78, the oldest individual to be elected president.
World leaders congratulated the president-elect, occasionally setting aside long-standing apprehensions about his proposed tariffs on imports and his foreign policy stances—especially regarding whether he would decrease U.S. backing for Ukraine as it fought against the Russian incursion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose rapport with President Joe Biden has soured due to the Gaza conflict, remarked that Trump’s victory signified a “strong recommitment to the vital alliance between Israel and America.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed eagerness to cooperate with Trump.
For Harris, who aimed to carve out history not only as the first female president but also as the first Black and Asian American woman in the role, the competitive campaign was a rapid 3 1/2-month race triggered by Biden’s withdrawal from his reelection bid amid pressures.
Ultimately, the economic challenges of post-pandemic inflation, skyrocketing housing costs, and uncertainty proved too great for her to overcome, despite the Biden administration’s expansive economic agenda driving the nation’s recovery from recession and establishing U.S. economic growth as a global benchmark.
Trump focused his campaign on strict immigration control at the U.S.-Mexico border and the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. He pledged to enact sweeping tariffs to bolster domestic industries. In the campaign’s final weeks, he made a series of costly pledges to various voter groups, including the elimination of taxes on tips, overtime wages, and Social Security benefits.
His final pitch centered around attributing all the Biden administration’s perceived shortcomings to Harris, under the slogan “Kamala Broke It. Trump Will Fix It.”
