Clintons Congratulate Trump and Vance on Election Win, Urge Americans to Bridge Divides

(L-R) Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and President Bill Clinton speak onstage during In Conversation with David Rubenstein at The 92nd Street Y, New York, on May 4, 2023. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have issued a statement remarking on the 2024 presidential contest, congratulating President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance for their win, while urging Americans to overcome their differences and come together.

“The American people have voted, and Donald Trump and JD Vance will be the next President and Vice President of the United States,” the Clintons wrote in a statement on Nov. 6. “We wish them well and hope they will govern for all of us.”

The Clintons praised Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for running a “positive” and “forward-looking” campaign.

Trump already won 295 electoral college votes, according to the Associated Press, which hasn’t called results for swing states Arizona and Nevada, where Trump is leading and ballots are still being counted. This is well above the 270 needed for him to return to the White House for a second non-consecutive term. Harris has secured 226.

Trump, who managed to clinch 73,048,257 votes compared to Harris’s 68,422,103, is on track to win the popular vote in a tense presidential contest.

The Clintons, in their statement, urged Americans to put aside their differences and come together for the good of the nation.

“We must remember that America is bigger than the results of any one election, and what we as citizens do now will make the difference between a nation that moves forward or one that falls back,” they wrote. “We need to solve our problems and seize our opportunities together. The future of our country depends on it.”

The theme of national unity was echoed by President Joe Biden, who reached out to Trump in a phone call after Election Day, as well as former President Barack Obama, who issued a congratulatory statement.

“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,” Obama wrote in a post on social media, in which he was joined by his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Biden called Trump on Nov. 6 to congratulate the president-elect on his victory and invite him to a meeting at the White House in order to facilitate a smooth presidential transition.

Steven Cheung, communications director for Trump’s campaign, said Trump is looking forward to the meeting.

“President Joe Biden called President Donald J. Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current Administration and the incoming Administration,” Cheung said in a statement. “President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”

Harris, who officially conceded the election in a Nov. 6 speech, also called Trump to congratulate him on the win.

“At the same time, in our nation, we owe loyalty not to a president or a party but to the Constitution of the United States and loyalty to our conscience and to our God,“ Harris said in her concession speech. ”My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign.”

In her campaign, Harris championed policies on health care expansion, abortion access, climate, and civil rights.

Trump ran a campaign focused on economic revival, national security, and immigration reform, promising to get tough on crime and prioritize American interests.