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Barack Obama released a statement reacting to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' loss in the 2024 presidential elections. In an X post shared on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the former president and his wife Michelle explained that while the outcome was not what they hoped for, "living in a democracy" meant recognizing different points of view.
They congratulated Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, adding:
"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."
The statement was met with mixed reactions. One user, referencing Obama's October 10 speech at a Pittsburgh rally urging Black men to vote for Harris, commented:
"You owe Black men an apology for how you talked down to them."
Many echoed the former president's sentiments, hoping for a more hopeful outlook during the midterms. Here are some comments seen under Obama's X post:
"The fight continues. The next battle the midterms! Lets Go!" one wrote.
"A very classy statement from an incredible president," another commented.
"I know it was difficult to see your former vice president lose but very grateful message, Mr President. You should run again," a user added.
Others criticized him for his actions, with one even stating he was "out of touch" with the realities the American working class faces.
"Looks like your 4th term was REJECTED," a person remarked.
"Congratulations on moving the needle…towards Trump," one stated.
"You relied on Hollywood who is out of touch with American working class," another added.
"This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for"- Barack and Michelle Obama affirmed a peaceful transfer of power
In their statement, Barack and Michelle Obama said they were proud of VP Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, calling them "two extraordinary public servants who ran a remarkable campaign." They also thanked the staff and volunteers who worked on the Democratic campaign. The statement continued:
"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."
Noting the country's various challenges over the last few years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant price hikes, the former president explained that "no matter how hard they work, treading water is the best they can do." He added:
"Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune."
However, Obama explained that these problems could be solved if people listened to each other. The former POTUS and his wife campaigned for Kamala Harris throughout October. This included the rallies in Detroit and Pittsburgh.
Obama's speech at the latter rally is widely discussed. During his address, the former president called out the black community, especially men, for their lack of enthusiasm for Harris, a woman. He claimed they would rather elect someone who had "consistently shown disregard" for Black communities and men.
However, critics such as Rashawn Ray and Keon L. Gilbert (in an October 18 essay published on Brookings.edu) claimed it was an "oversimplification" of their grievance. They reasoned that Black men felt "alienat(ed)," and their issues went beyond just "criminal justice," such as "economic opportunity and broader political representation."
The Associated Press declared Republican candidate Donald Trump's victory earlier in the day after electoral votes for Wisconsin favored him. Trump would serve as the 47th President of the United States (currently, president-elect), with his running mate, JD Vance, serving as the 50th Vice President of the United States.
In her concession speech, Kamala Harris thanked her supporters and congratulated Trump on his victory. She asserted that Democrats would continue the "fight for freedom" and added that they would "engage in a peaceful transfer of power."
