New Delhi:
US Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him for winning the 2024 presidential election, one of her senior aides said, following a bitter and contentious race.
Democrat Harris discussed with Mr Trump the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a President for all Americans, said the aide, confirming that Ms Harris will deliver remarks in Washington later today.
During the acrimonious campaign, the Democratic presidential candidate had described Mr Trump as a unique threat to democracy, but her campaign in the end underwhelmed voters.
She will deliver her concession speech in Washington today (2.30 am IST).
Mr Trump had never conceded defeat four years ago when his supporters ransacked the US Capitol. He returned to the White House with wider margins than before despite a criminal conviction, two impeachments while last in office and warnings from his former chief of staff that he was a “fascist.”
At 78, Mr Trump will be the oldest President during his inauguration scheduled on January 20. Had Ms Harris won, she would have been the first woman president of the US. “It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before,” Mr Trump said earlier today in his victory speech.
Global leaders swiftly pledged to work with Mr Trump, despite concerns in some parts of the world about his “America First” approach. Among the most worried countries will be Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders who dialled Mr Trump to congratulate him. “Had a great conversation with my friend, President Donald Trump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Had a great conversation with my friend, President @realDonaldTrump, congratulating him on his spectacular victory. Looking forward to working closely together once again to further strengthen India-US relations across technology, defence, energy, space and several other sectors.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024
Mr Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have scoffed at the billions of dollars in US assistance to Ukraine under outgoing President Joe Biden, with their aides musing about forcing Ukraine to make concessions to end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Trump and said he hoped the new US leader would help Ukraine find a “just peace.”
Ms Harris entered the race in July after the visibly ageing Biden dropped out. She ran a centrist campaign that highlighted Mr Trump’s inflammatory messaging and use of racist and sexist tropes. But his apocalyptic warnings about immigration found their mark with voters battered by the post-Covid economy and eager for change after the Biden years.
Hispanic and Black Americans, seen as crucial voting blocs for Harris, moved in greater numbers toward Mr Trump, who won a majority of Latino men, exit polls had shown.
Mr Trump is the first US President in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term, and the only person to be elected President as a convicted felon — he is scheduled to face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on November 26.
He is also a longtime sceptic of climate change who is expected again to reduce US global commitments, although one of his top campaign surrogates was fellow billionaire Elon Musk, owner of electric vehicle maker Tesla.
With inputs from AFP
