Today, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the public for the first time after losing the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, walking up to the podium at Howard University (her alma mater) to “Freedom” by Beyoncé, as she has done throughout her campaign.
Starting her speech, the vice president said, “I love you back,” to rousing applause. “So let me say. My heart is full today. 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.”
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. 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. I will never give up for the fight for our future where Americans can pursue their dreams, their visions, their aspirations.”
She gave love to her husband, Doug, her family, the Walz family, the Bidens, and her team and said she was proud of the race she ran over 107 days of campaigning.
“To the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel sad and disappointed, but please know that it’s going to be okay. On the campaign, I would often say that when we fight, we win. But here’s the thing: Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is don’t ever give up. Don’t ever give up. Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power. And don’t you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before. You have the capacity to do extraordinary good in the world, and so 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. This is a time to organize, to mobilize, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together.”
She ended her speech by invoking an adage. “There’s an adage a historian once called a law of history. True of every society across the ages, the adage is: 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, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service. And may that work guide us even in the face of setbacks, toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America. I thank you all. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America. I thank you all.”
Earlier today, a senior adviser to the vice president revealed Harris respected political tradition by reaching out to Trump prior to addressing the nation at large. “In the call, she told him that she would work with President Biden to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, unlike what we saw in 2020. She also made clear that she hopes he will be a president for all Americans,” her campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon penned to staff in a letter obtained by NBC News, per the outlet.
In turn, the Trump campaign released its own statement about the conversation. “President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier today where she congratulated him on his historic victory,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement. “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.”
Gretty Garcia is the associate news editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers all things news, entertainment, and pop culture. Before joining Cosmo, Gretty was a social strategist for Mrs. Dow Jones and a features and special projects editor at Editorialist. She holds an MS from the Columbia Journalism School and studied art history at Harvard College.
