- Safiu Kehinde
Former United States President, Barrack Obama, and his wife, Michelle Obama, have both spoken over the just concluded US Presidential election which saw Republican candidate, Donald Trump, re-elected president.
Reacting in a joint statement issued by Barrack Obama in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, the couple stated that Trump’s victory was not the outcome they were expecting.
The Obamas had drummed support for their Democrats candidate, Kamala Harris, and her Vice, Tim Walz.
The Democrats would, however, be defeated by Donald Trump who won with 295 electoral votes as against Harris’ 226.
Admitting to the defeat, the Obamas congratulated Trump and his Vice President-elect, Vance, on their victory.
They expressed willingness to accept the peaceful transfer of power in respect to democracy.
“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 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.” The Obamas wrote.
The couple lauded Kamala Harris and her Vice for pulling up remarkable campaign.
While commending the Democrats campaign staff and volunteers for their support, the Obamas, however, attributed the party’s shortfall under Joe Biden’s administration to the global impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
“Michelle and I could not be prouder of Vice President Harris and Governor 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.” The Obamas wrote further.