Kamala Harris has been slammed for waiting hours to concede the 2024 election to Donald Trump as the results painted a bleak picture at the scale of her loss.
The vice president finally called the president-elect just before 2pm Eastern Time on Wednesday and told him about the importance of the ‘peaceful transfer of power’.
As it stands, the vice president is on track to do worse than Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential election. She could even be on pace to have the worst Electoral College result of any Democrat since the 1988 race.
The world was shocked as the results favoring Trump trickled in Tuesday night as many polls indicated that Harris had a slight lead heading into Election Day.
Trump has blown that prediction up completely and has so far taken in the lion’s share of the popular vote too, securing 51 percent to Harris 47.5 percent as of Wednesday morning with most of the nation’s votes counted.
If that lead stands, it would mark the first time a Republican has won the popular vote in 20 years, since George Bush’s 2004 win, indicating a high-water mark of Republican enthusiasm the party has not seen in decades.
Vice President Kamala Harris has not conceded the presidential election to Donald Trump despite multiple news outlets claiming the Republican has won. Her campaign has announced she will speak Wednesday afternoon at Howard University.
Trump now becomes the first president in over 130 years – and only the second in history – to win a non-consecutive second term.
His beating Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the U.S. Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.
His victory included winning all of the traditional ‘Blue Wall’ states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Michigan was called by the Associated Press for Trump on Wednesday afternoon.
Nevada, which split for Biden in 2020, has yet to be called by the Associated Press, though Trump looks poised to win the Silver State’s six Electoral College votes with 85 percent of the vote counted there.
Still, the Democratic nominee has not addressed the outcome of the presidential election, which the Associated Press called as a victory for Trump around 5:30 am ET on Wednesday morning.
The Democrat deliver a speech at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday around 4 pm ET, nearly 12 hours after the race was called.
Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump points to his wife Melania at Trump’s Election rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., November 6, 2024.
Trump pumped his fist while taking the stage early Wednesday morning alongside his son Barron Trump and wife Melania.
Disappointed supporters of Kamala Harris react to the election results.
People talk with each other, amid the chairs and trash in an empty field after the election night watch party for Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at Howard University on November 06, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris attend an election night campaign watch party Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington.
Chairs and trash sit in an empty field after the election night watch party for Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.
Members of the press were photographed waiting outside of the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday afternoon awaiting their chance to catch a glimpse of the Democratic candidate.
Early on in the evening, around 11:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Trump won the critical battleground state of North Carolina, infusing his camp with excitement and sucking the life out of liberal’s hopes for a second consecutive term.
The Democrat was supposed to make a cameo at the college on Tuesday evening but opted not to leave her vice presidential residence as results came in showing Trump ahead.
Harris’s delay in addressing her own supporters have left some furious.
Barbara Heineback, a former White House staffer and the first black press office employee for the First Lady’s office, said she was disappointed with the Democrat.
Members of the media wait near the entrance to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the official residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington.
Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris react as election results come into Harris’ campaign watch party
‘I am so disappointed and really insulted that I’m a Howard alum and that she didn’t have the decency to walk out and say to her, to her university, make a comment to the United States,’ Heineback said. ‘Things were not looking well for her. It wasn’t completely over.’
‘I mean, it shows us how classless she actually is, a sore loser,’ the former White House staffer continued. ‘Even though it’s painful for her, for the Democrats, I think America might be relieved at recognizing and realizing they don’t have to put up with this any longer.’
Venture capitalist and noted GOP donor David Sacks also criticized the move, writing on X: ‘Waiting a day to give her concession speech was a big mistake. By tomorrow, Kamala will literally be yesterday’s news. No one will even tune in.’
US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris attend an event on gun violence in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 26, 2024. The lights in the executive mansion repotedly cut off pretty early on election night.
Eric Brown picks up trash left behind from Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ election night campaign watch party.
Jill Biden was spotted voting in Delaware on Election Day as Joe was reportedly huddled at the White House
‘Harris hasn’t conceded the loss yet,’ another X user wrote. ‘Despite it being such a huge loss.’
‘No traditional concession call or speech I feel like something is up. Where are the mainstream politicians offering congratulations and enabling a peaceful transfer of power.’
President Joe Biden has been conspicuously silent after the election as well.
The sitting president was reportedly watching the results come in with family and close friends at the White House late on Tuesday evening.
But Fox News’ Peter Doocy reported around 11 pm ET that lights within the executive mansion had been slowly turning off room by room, indicating that its occupants were heading to bed before the race was called.
There has still been no comment from the White House on the presidential race.
US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris attend an event on gun violence in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on September 26, 2024. Biden has not made a statement since the election was announced a victory for Donald Trump
In 2020, a firestorm was set off after former President Trump refused to accept the election results.
The Republican held off on publicly conceding the election to President Joe Biden until after his supporters violently attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
‘A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20,’ Trump stated in a video recorded on January 7, 2021. It was his first time admitting he would not get a second consecutive term.
‘My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power,’ the Trump video continued.
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump makes a speech during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, on November 06, 2024.
Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, made the announcement at her alma mater shortly after midnight, as it became clear Harris would not become the first female president
In 2016, Hillary Clinton conceded the race to Trump the morning after Election Day.
She said after calling the Republican she hoped 'he will be a successful president for all Americans.'
Clinton won 227 Electoral College votes in total.
Harris, meanwhile, has so far only secured 224.
Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, made the announcement Tuesday night at Howard University shortly after midnight that Harris would not make an appearance.
It was becoming clear Harris would not become the first female president.
'Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in the promise of America,' the former congressman told the crowd that had gathered to celebrate a Harris win.
'We still have votes to count, we still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won't hear from the vice president tonight.
'But you will hear from her tomorrow, she will back here tomorrow to address the HBCU family her supporters and the nation.'
The pivotal moment came when North Carolina was called for Trump at 11:19 pm ET.
His defeating Harris marks a remarkable return for a twice-impeached president, who left office in 2021 on the back of claims that he had incited an assault on the U.S. Capitol building, and who was convicted earlier this year on multiple counts of business fraud.
Trump pulled out a landslide win and became the first president in over 130 years – and only the second in history – to win a non-consecutive second term. Harris party at her alma mater pictured above
Audience members watch election results as they wait for the arrival of Democratic presidential nominee and United States Vice President Kamala Harris
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris takes part in a phone bank at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, DC, on November 5, 2024
The 78-year-old Trump will also become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.
He pulled off his remarkable victory on a night reminiscent of 2016, sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Associated Press called Wisconsin at 5.34am ET on Wednesday and the race just three minutes later.
The race initially appeared neck-and-neck as Americans went to the polls Tuesday after a tense months-long build-up that peaked when Joe Biden abandoned his quest for a second term and the Democratic party ushered Vice President Harris to the fore.
But as night fell, Trump steadily began pulling ahead thanks to support from solidly red states including Florida, Texas and Alabama.
Nikki Haley, Trump's former Ambassador to the United Nations who briefly ran against the Republican in the primaries earlier this year, congratulated the former president on his win before Harris.
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley congratulated her former boss and political opponent Donald Trump on winning the election on Wednesday morning
'The American people have spoken,' she wrote on X. 'Congratulations to President Trump on a strong win.'
'Now, it’s time for the American people to come together, pray for our country, and start the process of a peaceful transition.'
'That begins with Kamala Harris conceding. You can’t just talk about unity in a campaign, you have to show it regardless of the outcome,' the Republican pointedly wrote.
The 78-year-old Trump will become the oldest president ever inaugurated, beating President Joe Biden's record by five months.
He pulled off his remarkable victory on a night reminiscent of 2016, sweeping the key swing states of North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Trump cracks a slight smile at his election watch party
'This was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time,' Trump after walking out on stage to relish his win.
'This is a magnificent victory for the American people, that will allow us to make America great again.'
Certainly, Trump's resounding win brings an end to a tumultuous 2024 campaign – punctuated with Biden's dramatic withdrawal from the race in July, as well as two shocking attempts on Trump's life.
After announcing he would run again back in November 2022, Trump comfortably saw off other Republican hopefuls – including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley – to secure the Party nomination in March this year.
Entering the summer, he held a comfortable polling lead over President Biden, 81, whose record on the economy and immigration, as well as the obvious problem of his advancing age, were proving disastrous among voters.
Trump's victory brings an end to a tumultuous 2024 campaign - punctuated with Joe Biden's dramatic withdrawal from the race in July, as well as two shocking attempts on Trump's life (Trump is pictured after surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania).
The now notorious CNN television debate between the two presumptive nominees on June 27 – in which Biden froze and mumbled, appearing unable to clearly answer even basic questions – only helped Trump further.
On July 13, while addressing crowds at rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the bullet of would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks ripped through Trump's right ear. After being swarmed by Secret Service agents, Trump rose to his feet – his shoes missing and his face bloodied – pumping his fist in the air and shouting: 'Fight! Fight! Fight!'
Just days later, he received a hero's welcome in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Republican National Convention.
MAGA fans donned mock bandages on their ears in solidarity with the former president and, in a stirring speech on the final night, Trump told a packed-out convention center that he would be a 'president for all of America'.
Fast forward through several tumultuous months of non-stop campaigning through swing states punctuated by another assassination attempt and a shift worked at McDonald's, Trump is in position to make good on his word.