Former President Barack Obama and ex-first lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday released a statement regarding the 2024 election.
President-elect Donald Trump stormed to an election victory on Tuesday, with at least 292 Electoral College votes. This figure is projected to rise, as the Associated Press reports that Trump also leads in the swing states of Michigan, Nevada and Arizona, and is also on track to win the popular vote for the first time.
What Did the Statement Say?
Following Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, the Obamas shared a joint statement in a social media post on Wednesday evening.
Here’s the full joint statement posted to Barack Obama’s account on X, formerly Twitter:
“Over the last few weeks and through Election Day, millions of Americans cast their votes—not just for president, but for leaders at every level. Now the results are in, and we want to congratulate President Trump and Senator [JD] Vance on their victory.
“This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues. But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won’t always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power.
“Michelle and I could not be prouder of Vice President Harris and Governor [Tim] Walz—two extraordinary public servants who ran a remarkable campaign. And we will always be grateful to the staff and volunteers who poured their heart and soul into electing public servants they truly believed in.
“As I said on the campaign trail, America has been through a lot over the last few years—from a historic pandemic and price hikes resulting from the pandemic, to rapid change and the feeling a lot of folks have that, no matter how hard they work, treading water is the best they can do. Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune.
“The good news is that these problems are solvable—but only if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that made this country great.
“In a country as big and diverse as ours, we won’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace—even to people with whom we deeply disagree. That’s how we’ve come this far, and it’s how we’ll keep building a country that is more fair and more just, more equal and more free.”
What Did the Obamas Say During the 2024 Election?
The Obamas endorsed Harris for president in July, saying they were “going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in November.”
The former president made the announcement on a post to X: “Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend Kamala Harris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support.”
Since the endorsement, both continued to speak on the election—as the former president even participated in a Harris rally in Pittsburgh last month—marking the first time he hit the campaign trail for the Democratic nominee. The former president spoke on an array of issues while on stage, including what a future under Harris’ policies would look like while taking numerous jabs at Trump for his economic and immigration plans.
In the lead-up to Tuesday’s election, the Obamas also took aim at Trump, who fired back along the campaign trail, including saying that the former first lady was being “nasty” to him after she criticized Trump at a rally in Michigan last month.
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