kamala harris concedes the us presidential election to donald trump, in an emotional speech she vows a "peaceful transfer of power". while i concede this election, i do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign. cheering donald trump promises a "new golden age" for the country during his victory speech, with speculation mounting on who he will select for the top jobs. both kamala harris and joe biden have spoken to donald trump in separate phone calls. president biden will address the nation later today. hello, i'm sally bundock. we start in the united states — where kamala harris says

she will help to ensure a peaceful transfer of power between the biden administration and donald trump and his team. but in a speech to her supporters in washington, she said that, whilst she conceded the election, she would not concede the fight that fuelled the campaign. the vice president said she would never stop working for freedom, opportunity, fairness, and dignity for all people. for donald trump his victory has been described as one of the most dramatic comebacks in american political history. he will become the first president in more than 130 years to serve non—consecutive terms, when he's sworn in on january 20th. this is what the us electoral map looked like back in 2020, whenjoe biden won the white house. the blue represents democrat states, red republican. this is what it looks like now even though two states

are still to declare, donald trump has already comfortably won the race, reaching the magic number in the electoral college system of 270. he's also won the popular vote, by 51%, to kamala harris�*s 47%. both ms harris and president biden have spoken to mr trump in separate phone calls and mr biden will address the nation later on thursday. samira hussein reports from washington. the walk to the podium to deliver the speech that no politician wants to give. but kamala harris owed it to the country to concede the election. a fundamental principle of american democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. that principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. and anyone who seeks the public

trust must honour it. 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. the party—like atmosphere from tuesday vanished. now, people are unable to hide their disappointment. as the first female vice president, kamala harris has shattered glass ceilings. but one of the last remaining bastions of male privilege in america, the white house, remains intact. her history—making run for the white house coming to a crushing end, miss harris left consoling her supporters. to the young people who are watching, it is.... cheering i love you guys. to the young people who are watching, it is okay to feel

sad and disappointed. but please know it's going to be okay. a message of optimism they needed to hear. she did everything that she needed to do. like, she really helped me feel better about the results, as i was feeling down, i was upset. i was lost, i cried, i didn't know what to do. so she really helped me to feel better, get some sense of confidence. even though things didn't go particularly in the way that we wanted it to, there's still hope, and things still have a positive side. i'm from pennsylvania, i so seeing it turn red, like, oh, it broke my heart, - knowing that we were blue in 2020, we were progressive, we elected a democratic- governor in 2023, and itjust... - ijust don't — i was lost, - i was hurt, i was heartbroken that this qualified woman, - so perfect as a president, was just not chosen by our country. and it hurt me, it really did. chosen by the party, but not by the electorate. samira hussein, bbc news, washington.

to washington, where we can speak to our correspondent jessica parker. hello, jessica. so in her very emotional speech, kamala harris, which some said brought some optimism amongst the huge defeat? i some optimism amongst the huge defeat? ~' ., some optimism amongst the huge defeat? ~ ., ., ., ., defeat? i think for kamala harris, defeat? i think for kamala harris. of _ defeat? i think for kamala harris, of course, - defeat? i think for kamala harris, of course, we - defeat? i think for kamala harris, of course, we had| defeat? i think for kamala - harris, of course, we had been waiting to see if she would be speaking on election night itself, and she didn't appear at her watch party, as it's called, where supporters gathered. 0ne called, where supporters gathered. one of her spokespeople said that they would wait until all the votes are counted and she would come out on wednesday, which he did, then all the supporters went home, and obvious that there is a return of the crowds in order to hear her earlier on today. win this election. obviously so it must�*ve been a very the way the results hi today. ' to hear her earlier on today. so it must�*ve been a very difficult speech for kamala difficult speech for kamala harris to deliver because, harris to deliver because, let's not forget that there was let's not forget that there was genuine optimism in the genuine optimism in the democratic camp that they could democratic camp that they could win this election. 0bviously win this election. 0bviously

win this election. obviously the way the results have now win this election. obviously the way the results have now shaken down, donald trump has a resounding victory, notjust resounding victory, not just winning resounding victory, notjust winning the electoral vote but the popular vote as well. so for the democrats and kamala harris, they are left trying to put a bit of a spin on things — she was talking about how people shouldn't give up those fights that her campaign has championed, for example, abortion rights, and emphasising as well the peaceful transition of power — no doubt a bit of a dig at donald trump after the way he behaved following his election defeat in 2020. but i think trying to emphasise from the democrats that those organs of the democratic state will continue to work, and that they will hand over power to donald trump over the transition period that will lead up to his inauguration injanuary.

who will hear from later on today, he could potentially be looking at large parts of his legacy being dismantled by his successor and the man who he beat four years ago, but will now be reentering the white house. in now be reentering the white house. ., , ,, now be reentering the white house. . , ,, , house. in that process could be made a lot _ house. in that process could be made a lot easier— house. in that process could be made a lot easier if— house. in that process could be made a lot easier if the - made a lot easier if the republicans when the majority of the house of representatives — and we will find out that detail in the next few days. yes, republicans are hopeful of taking the house. we don't have the results yet, but they've taken control the senate, and if they win control of the house as well, that means they have the presidency, the senate and house of representatives — and house of representatives — a real clean sweep donald trump. and donald trump will now be in a more powerful position than he's ever been before. why? because the potential control of both houses by the republicans, then as well, if you remember when he won in 2016, it was a bit of

a surprise — it seemed as if his camp wasn't actually quite prepared for that transition. this time, it's very different. the people around him have been preparing for quite some time for the possibility of reentering the white house. they have loads of appointments that they have to make now, in terms of positions around the president, around the white house. but they are much more prepared than last time. and donald trump himself, he won't just get the keys to the white house, he'llactually just get the keys to the white house, he'll actually know his way around. now for his supporters, that's great, that means they think that he'll hit the ground running — but for donald trump ultimate critics, this is quite a horrifying prospect. this is quite a horrifying wowed-— this is quite a horrifying prospect. this is quite a horrifying n-rosect. ,, ., ~ prospect. jessica parker in washington, _ prospect. jessica parker in washington, thank - prospect. jessica parker in washington, thank you. i as counting took place in those all important swing states, it became clear to kamala harris's supporters that any chance of victory was slipping away. despite high—profile celebrity endorsements, and a formidable ground operation to get their voters to the polls, and lots of money, the harris campaign failed.

clive myrie sent this report from washington. as america wakes up to donald trump's victory, the dream many had of a first woman president is over. a group of early—morning joggers hit the road, one democrat among them shocked by the election result. it's really scary to know what's going to happen next, and i'm feeling just a lot of uncertainty and nervousness about the future. and at the venue for kamala harris's overnight election watch party, there's a mournful silence. the morning after, the balloons are still up, the barriers are also in place, because there should have been a victory party here, at her old university, for kamala harris. now it's a wake. i can see you have been crying. i have been crying, i definitely have been crying. we came across student anna wiggins, distraught and bewildered.

how awful was it last night? erm, i think i found out about the result at about 3am in the morning, and i was so crushed, because letting trump win is a vote for racism, it's a vote against women. i'm so scared. i'm terrified for this country, and i'm so hurt that america let this happen in the first place. so why did america reject kamala harris? welcome to the eras tour! her endorsements were big, and famous. i'm supporting kamala harris for president. every single vote, every one is going to matter. but did any of this speak to the concerns of ordinary americans? from rural areas to urban centres, from the rust belt to the sun belt, millions felt their country was on the wrong track. donald trump felt their pain. my message to americans tonight is simple. -

we do not have| to live this way. we don't, we don't. and we won't, we won't. we do not have to settle - for weakness, incompetence, decline, and decay. i'm sad. we are all sad, but at the end of the day, we don't have time for solace. you have to get up and go work. 0ne democratic strategist admits republicans asked the questions kamala harris didn't. we asked people three things. how do you feel about immigration? how do you feel about crime? and are you better off, is the economy better? people said "no" to those things. i don't think that's true. but elections are about instincts and feelings as well. i know, clive. i agree, but look, at the end of the day, at some point, we have to look at some realities. the first decision i made as nominee in 2020 was selecting her as my vice president. 0ne reality is that kamala harris was fatally tied to an unpopular president, and during the campaign, she failed to make a decisive break from her boss.

would you have done something differently than president biden? there is not a thing that comes to mind. she seemed tin—eared, not only turning off moderate republicans, but also democrats too — black men, latinos, younger voters. there's a problem with the messaging. some of it has to do with religion. with tradition. some of it has to do with masculinity. and so i don't know what we do yet, but we've got to figure out a way to move forward. but i don't think this is a time for the party to capitulate and move back from the progress that we want to push forward. that postmortem on the structural realignment of the political map we've alljust witnessed begins now, as donald trump prepares for a second term, given a second chance. in the run—up to polling day, all the focus was on the seven key swing states. this is where the election would be decided, with speculation the race would be so close, it might take days before a winner's declared. but it only took a few hours before georgia

and north carolina declared for mr trump, followed by pennsylvania, wisconsin, and michigan. tom bateman reports from pennsylvania on what persuaded voters, to this time, back donald trump. at the steps where kamala harris made herfinal pitch, now they're packing up, defeated, and she's going home. i voted for kamala too as well, but i already figured trump was going to win, just due to the campaigns. i just felt our campaign wasn't strong enough, and also, just seems as though they don't want to see a woman leading, in office. trump outperformed harris, particularly among men. peter walks coco here every day, and struggled, he says, as inflation surged underjoe biden. yeah, i like being able to afford groceries. i like being able to pay for gas. i like that trump wants to do away with income tax and replace it with tariffs and make us a much better country again.

these steps are famous from the movie rocky — a plucky underdog takes on a heavyweight champion. but harris just couldn't break through in this critical swing state, in which her side only scraped a win four years ago. kamala harris was trying to outperform joe biden in this city and, therefore, across the state. but in the end, donald trump ate into those margins, even taking voters from harris here in philadelphia. mostly concerned, just right in this moment, for women, for my lgbt community, for my trans friends. i'm very concerned about the future for us, you know? i feel like waking up, . especially as a woman. i mean, my husband is- distraught, but i was like, can we put it aside for a minute? because i need that love and support. . out in the suburbs, they once helped build a world superpower. now people here think trump

will focus on america first. if you drive through north philly, they could have used $1 billion to fix that, and that is not even a quarter of what we spent on wars. so i believe if we aren't affected in, like, a personal attack, or anything that affects us, we shouldn't really worry about it. it has improved for me. at this place right here... 0ur tips won't be taxed. and what do you think about what was said during the campaign, that trump is going to be a dictator? kamala called him a fascist. i don't believe all that. in the end, donald trump built on his base in the rural rust belt, and even advanced in democrat—voting philadelphia, and his fans are now hailing a knockout blow. tom bateman, bbc

news, pennsylvania. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

more now on our top story, the outcome of the us presidential election. as you've been hearing, kamala harris has conceded and vowed for a peaceful transition of power. let's speak now to democratic strategist laura fink, and republican strategist matthew bartlett. good to have you both on bbc news. laura, ifi good to have you both on bbc news. laura, if i begin with you, a very emotional speech from kamala harris, but she could not hide her huge disappointment and of course those who were listening to her in washington as well are heartbroken.— in washington as well are heartbroken. , ., , ., , heartbroken. yes, it was a very touchin: heartbroken. yes, it was a very touching speech, _ heartbroken. yes, it was a very touching speech, and _ heartbroken. yes, it was a very touching speech, and obviously

preserving the democratic transfer of power was her priority, and i think she sealed the deal. when you look at the voter exit polls, you see that she had a higher approval rating, and she was viewed to be less extreme than donald trump — but voters chose him anyway. they embraced him despite of his policies that were unpopular, such as tariffs and the repeal of health care, and the repeal of health care, and restricting women's reproductive rights. but they also did not fear him, they did not fear his instability or warnings from generals about the threat that he may pose, and they did not reject his racism or xenophobia, or his sexism. and in fact, now he looks to have virtually both branches of government, and he will enact these policies potentially. democrats now have to look at it and say, how can we retrench and push back, and especially, given that they might not have a single branch

of government to do so. but you sa the of government to do so. but you say they didn't — of government to do so. but you say they didn't fear _ of government to do so. but you say they didn't fear him - of government to do so. but you say they didn't fear him and - say they didn't fear him and they chose to go with him regardless — but his policies, his plans have clearly caused people to vote in favour of donald trump, they feel that he will fix the economy, they feel hit sort out the issues president biden and vice president biden and vice president harris hadn't. and fewer women voted for her in 2020 -- fewer women voted for her in 2020 —— than in fewer women voted for her in 2020 -- than in 2020, fewer women voted for her in 2020 —— than in 2020, how do you account for that? i 2020 -- than in 2020, how do you account for that? i account for it by the — you account for that? i account for it by the economic - for it by the economic headwinds. you're right, the economy was at the centre of the equation, and the protests and the fight against president biden, the headwinds were simply too strong overcome. she ran a fantastic campaign, and i think it was in the campaign that was necessarily the problem where the candidate, because there's no equivalent in terms of how effectively and precise she was in those days. i think you have to look at the

broader picture and the priorities of the individual voters, and where democrats missed the mark. because, as she was counting on some of the things i talked about as being persuasive, it's very clear they were not.— persuasive, it's very clear they were not. matthew, let's brina they were not. matthew, let's bring you _ they were not. matthew, let's bring you in- _ they were not. matthew, let's bring you in. i'm _ they were not. matthew, let's bring you in. i'm sure - they were not. matthew, let's bring you in. i'm sure you - they were not. matthew, let's| bring you in. i'm sure you have a different view to that — laura they are saying kamala harris ran a fantastic campaign. iassume harris ran a fantastic campaign. i assume you disagree with that which is why she didn't get the votes? let me first essay — didn't get the votes? let me first essay i _ didn't get the votes? let me first essay i think _ didn't get the votes? let me first essay i think laura - first essay i think laura speaks _ first essay i think laura speaks for a lot of americans. we are — speaks for a lot of americans. we are a _ speaks for a lot of americans. we are a divided nation, and certainly. _ we are a divided nation, and certainly, i've been on losing campaigns and there are a lot of peorrie _ campaigns and there are a lot of people who are quite angry and upset, and you never need to minimise that. but let's also — to minimise that. but let's also be _ to minimise that. but let's also be clear that donald trump had a _ also be clear that donald trump had a massive night, the greatest comeback in american political— greatest comeback in american political history. this is someone who in 2016 narrowly won an — someone who in 2016 narrowly won an election based on a white — won an election based on a white working class forgotten voter~ —

white working class forgotten voter. now in 2024, he has expanded that base virtually across — expanded that base virtually across all demographics, including as mentioned black voters. — including as mentioned black voters, hispanic voters. this is not — voters, hispanic voters. this is not a _ voters, hispanic voters. this is not a campaign that targeted people. — is not a campaign that targeted people, looked at them as different voting blocs in treating them differently, but rather — treating them differently, but rather made an argument around the economy and immigration, foreign — the economy and immigration, foreign wars. but again, the central— foreign wars. but again, the central issue here wasjust affordability. it was a rejection of the past four years— rejection of the past four years of— rejection of the past four years of the biden harris administration where, week after— administration where, week after week, the american public saw billions and billions, trillions— saw billions and billions, trillions of dollars being spent _ trillions of dollars being spent and the only thing they saw was _ spent and the only thing they saw was an increase in gas, groceries, _ saw was an increase in gas, groceries, electricity, education pot- groceries, electricity, education po groceries, electricity, education or ., ., education pot yet inflation has come down — education pot yet inflation has come down significantly, - education pot yet inflation has come down significantly, and. come down significantly, and many would argue the reason inflation was so high in america as it was in the uk and many countries around the world was because of external factors

was because of