Harris declares defeat: “Please don’t despair. It’s time to keep trying without giving up.” Congratulations to Trump: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web
[Washington = Toshinori Asai]Democratic Party Vice President Harris (60), who lost to Republican former President Trump (78) in the U.S. presidential election, gave a speech in Washington, D.C. on the 6th, saying, “We must accept the results of this election.Trump.” I will support him and his team and work towards a peaceful transition of power,” he declared defeat. Before her speech, Harris called Trump to congratulate him.
Mr. Harris (file photo)
◆ “The deeper the darkness, the brighter the stars” Quote from Dr. King
In her speech, Harris expressed regret, saying, “This result is not what we wanted,” but she told supporters, “Please don’t despair. It’s time to roll up your sleeves and keep trying, not give up.” called out.
In this election campaign, both the Republican and Democratic parties engaged in fierce criticism against the backdrop of divisions in American society. Harris quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a black leader of the civil rights movement, who said in a speech, “The deeper the darkness, the brighter the stars.” Even if it is, let’s fill the sky with countless shining stars.”
The speech was given at Harris’ alma mater, Howard University, which is known as a prestigious black college. The rally was packed with young people and women who supported Harris, and some supporters shed tears during her speech.
◆President Biden also congratulates Trump
The White House announced on the 6th that President Biden congratulated Trump over the phone and invited him to the White House for a face-to-face meeting. A senior Trump campaign official said in a statement: “Mr. Trump looks forward to our upcoming meeting and appreciates Mr. Biden’s call.”
The presidential election is contested to win a majority of 270 electors out of a total of 538 electors allocated to each state. According to major U.S. media outlets, as of the night of the 6th (9 a.m. on the 7th, Japan time), Mr. Trump had won 294 people and Ms. Harris had 226. Of the seven battleground states that hold the key to the election, Trump also won in the midwestern state of Michigan. Together with Pennsylvania in the east and Wisconsin in the midwest, they conquered all three Rust Belt states. He has also won the southern states of Georgia and North Carolina, and is reported to have an advantage in the western states of Nevada and Arizona, where vote counting is still underway.