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News > World

Clinton Calls for Giving Trump 'Open Mind and Chance to Lead'

  • Hillary Clinton, accompanied by Bill Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine, speaks about the results of the U.S. election at a hotel in New York, Nov. 9, 2016.

    Hillary Clinton, accompanied by Bill Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine, speaks about the results of the U.S. election at a hotel in New York, Nov. 9, 2016. | Photo: Reuters

Published 9 November 2016
Opinion

Hillary Clinton's much-awaited concession speech was delayed until Wednesday morning in New York.

Hillary Clinton finally offered a measured concession speech Wednesday in New York after a lengthy delay, announcing her willingness to work with Donald Trump and keep an open mind about his presidency.

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The former secretary of state said the results of the election were “painful” and cause for disappointment, but must be accepted to take up the next steps.

“Last night I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country,” she said after receiving a boisterous applause at the top of her speech.

“I am sorry we did not win this election,” she added. “I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign.”

Clinton, who took the stage alongside Bill Clinton, her daughter Chelsea and her son-in-law Mark Mezvinsky, called on supporters to “keep building that better stronger, fairer” country her campaign claimed to champion while ensuring a smooth transition for the new president.

“We must accept this result and then look to the future,” she said. “Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead.”

“Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years but all the time,” she added. “Let's do all we can to keep advances the causes and values we hold dear.”

Clinton concluded her speech with words of encouragement for U.S. women and girls to reach for their dreams, even though she did not succeed in breaking the country’s top glass ceiling.

Clinton’s running mate Tim Kaine introduced the Democratic candidate, calling her a “great history-maker” and emphasizing her career-long commitment to “families and children.”

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“I’m proud of Hillary because she loves this country,” he said, adding that “nobody had to wonder” whether or not Clinton was going to accept the outcome of the vote, unlike Trump, who hinted he might contest results in what he claimed was a “rigged” election.

Clinton’s concession speech followed on the heels of comments from Republican speaker of the house Paul Ryan, who repeatedly stressed his “excitement” about the impending presidency and “unified Republican government” and celebrated what he called an “enormous political feat” by Trump.

“We won more seats than anyone expected and much of that is thanks to Donald Trump,” Ryan said. “He helped elect a strong majority in the Senate and in the house.”

“Donald and I have had fantastic conversations in the last 18 hours,” he added. “We are very excited about working with him to make sure that (we hit the ground running).”

Ryan called Trump’s win an “opportunity” with “great potential.” When asked about the consequences for civil rights, Ryan celebrated the fact that a Trump government will ensure that “conservative, constitution-respecting judges” will be nominated, a move he heralded as “very exciting.”

In a shocking outcome that polls and media failed to predict, Trump beat Clinton in Tuesday’s election 279 to 228 with 98 percent of the vote reporting. Republicans also won a majority in the Senate and the lower house of Congress.

President Barack Obama also responded to the election results early Wednesday afternoon, acknowledging significant differences between himself and Trump, but calling for a "peaceful transition" to the new presidency. 

"We are all rooting for his success in united and leading the country," Obama said of Trump. "We're all on one team ... we all want what's best for this country."

Obama has invited Trump to meet with him at the White House on Thursday. 

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