Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'

What happened
World leaders congratulated President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday on his decisive electoral victory. President Joe Biden invited him to the White House to start the presidential transition, and Vice President Kamala Harris made her own congratulatory phone call to Trump before giving a concession speech to the country.
Who said what
Harris told supporters it was important to "accept the results of this election," because Americans "owe loyalty not to a president or a party but to the Constitution." But "while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign," she added. "Do not despair. This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves."
The vice president's "defiant and emotional" 12-minute concession speech at Howard University was more than Trump "ever offered" her or Biden "after they defeated him in 2020," The New York Times said. Trump has still "not conceded that race, in public or private." Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said that when Harris called to congratulate the president-elect, Trump "acknowledged" Harris "on her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"U.S. markets, banks and bitcoin all stormed higher" yesterday, The Associated Press said, as "investors looked favorably on a smooth election" and anticipated lower taxes and less regulation.
What next?
As Trump starts choosing his Cabinet and other high-ranking officials, special counsel Jack Smith has begun "discussing how to wind down the two federal prosecutions of the president-elect," given that the "Justice Department has long recognized that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution while in office," The Washington Post said. Winding down the cases "could give Smith time to deliver a final report detailing the findings of his two probes to Attorney General Merrick Garland," who has indicated he would "make special counsel reports public if they reached his desk."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
Conservative megadonors build a new bank thanks to Trump administration approval
IN THE SPOTLIGHT With a Lord Of The Rings-inspired name, and the backing of some of the biggest GOP financiers around, Erebor Bank is set to make major waves in the crypto world
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
‘The illusion of wealth can encourage people to take on more debt’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps