Kamala Harris concedes defeat to Donald Trump as US House remains up for grabs

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07 November, 2024

US Vice President Kamala Harris conceded defeat to President-elect Donald Trump in a speech given at her alma mater, Howard University, where she vowed to keep fighting and working towards ensuring a smooth transition at the White House.

"We must accept the results of this election. Earlier today, I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory," she said.

"I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition, and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power," she continued.

Harris also addressed disappointed supporters watching her speech, telling them "it is ok to feel sad and disappointed but please know it’s going to be ok… Sometimes the fight takes a while, that doesn’t mean with won’t win."

Trump won the election with a convincing electoral college majority of 295 to Harris's 226, while his fellow Republicans also maintained control of the Senate.

However, on Thursday, control of the US House of Representatives is not yet clear for either Democrats or Republicans, though it seems likely that the latter will maintain a majority, with the main question being the size of it.

Trump win casts doubt on future of Mexico's migrant caravan

11:05 AM

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Thousands of migrants traveling together in a caravan in Mexico are grappling with their next steps after former U.S. President Donald Trump, who ran on an anti-immigration platform, was propelled to victory for a second term.

After hearing Trump had won, many migrants in the caravan of about 3,000 people which started in the southern city of Tapachula on Tuesday, felt less hopeful about their chance at a new life in the United States.

"I had hoped (Kamala Harris) would win, but that didn't happen," said Valerie Andrade, a Venezuelan migrant traveling with the caravan from Chiapas to Oaxaca in southern Mexico.

Andrade, along with her husband, and like over 7 million other Venezuelans, left their crisis-ridden country seeking better prospects.

Trump, 78, clinched Tuesday's election after a campaign that promised large-scale deportations and a return to fast-tracked deportations to Mexico.

His proposed immigration policies also include ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.

China's Xi congratulates Trump on winning US election

9:50 AM

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a telegram to Donald Trump congratulating him on being elected to be the next U.S. president, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Berri claims Trump pledged to end Israel's war on Lebanon

9:46 AM

The New Arab Staff

Lebanon's Speaker of the House Nabih Berri commented on the reasons why US President Donald Trump received a substantial portion of the Lebanese and Arab vote in Michigan, saying, "It's because of Joe Biden's policy, as he stood by watching the killing of children in Gaza and Lebanon."

In response to another question about the "promises" made by the Republican president, he added, "He signed a written pledge to ceasefire in Lebanon immediately upon his victory, at Hassan Abbas’s restaurant," referring to a Lebanese eatery visited by Trump during the campaign.

Syrian-American Hamadeh wins House race for Republicans

9:43 AM

The New Arab Staff

Pro-Israel Republican Abraham Hamadeh, the son of a Syrian immigrant will win his US House race for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, a safe Republican district, against Democratic nominee Gregory Whitten, CNN projects.

Hamadeh has strongly aligned himself with Donald Trump, pledging to support the former president’s border wall and make border security a priority. He has also echoed Trump’s unproven claims regarding the 2020 election.

A former Army intelligence officer, Hamadeh previously served in the Maricopa County prosecutor’s office. According to his campaign website, he is the son of immigrants, with his family having fled to the United States from Syria and Venezuela.

Iran: US elections opportunity to review 'wrong approaches'

9:40 AM

The New Arab Staff & Agencies

US elections are an opportunity to review the "wrong approaches" of the American government, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Thursday according to state media, after Donald Trump won the presidency on Wednesday.

Former President Donald Trump's return to the White House could mean tougher enforcement of U.S. oil sanctions against Iran, which he initiated in 2018 after exiting a nuclear pact between Tehran and global powers.

"We had bitter experiences with various U.S. governments' past policies and approaches. Elections are an opportunity to review the wrong approaches of the past," Baghaei said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in September that Tehran is ready to end its nuclear standoff with the West, which accuses it of seeking capacity to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.

Outgoing president Joe Biden attempted to revive the nuclear deal with Iran in negotiations but failed to reach a new agreement. Trump has not made clear whether he might reopen the issue.

"What is important for Iran will be how we evaluate the actions of the U.S. government,"