Former President Barrack Obama has blamed current global economic challenges for Vice President, Kamala Harris’ loss to Donald Trump in the just concluded U.S. presidential election.
Trump emerged winner of the election on Wednesday after claiming 295 electoral votes to defeat Harris who polled 226 electoral votes.
In a joint statement on Thursday with his wife Michelle, Obama congratulated Trump for his victory in the election and urged him to be a president for all Americans.
Obama said the world is currently experiencing a global crisis fueled by the 2020 pandemic, causing discontent among people and eventually affecting incumbent governments which Harris was unfortunate to be part of. He, however, called for unity, equality and fairness.
“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 recognising that our point of view won’t always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power,” said Obama.
The United States has been “through a lot” over recent 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,” the former Democratic president wrote.
“Those conditions have created headwinds for democratic incumbents around the world, and last night showed that America is not immune,” Obama said.
“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.”
Meanwhile, US President, Joe Biden, is billed to address the nation on Thursday on plans for a peaceful transfer of power to Trump.
Biden will speak from the White House’ Rose Garden at 11 am (16:00 GMT) to discuss the election results and the transition of power.