NEW YORK: Kamala Harris has gone “silent” and cancelled her planned speech following significant losses in key swing states, as Donald Trump made strong gains in the US presidential election.
As the night unfolded, Trump was projected to win Georgia and North Carolina, flipping the former state from Democratic control. The results left Harris trailing in other critical states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. These states are crucial for her path to victory, and with more state calls favouring Trump, Harris’ campaign was dealt a blow.
Reports from the Harris campaign team revealed that staff were instructed to avoid speaking to the media as the results continued to pour in. CNN reporters at Harris’s campaign headquarters in Washington DC described the atmosphere as “silence,” with no further statements being made by the team. One correspondent noted, “The operative word right now is silence. There’s not a lot being said.”
Meanwhile, Harris’s supporters were visibly upset, with crowds seen leaving her event in Washington DC as Trump’s victories mounted. Video footage from Howard University, where the Harris campaign was based, showed attendees exiting in droves as the news of Trump’s successes spread.
As the situation developed, Harris’s press spokesman confirmed that she would wait until Wednesday to address the nation. Cedric Richmond, co-chairman of Harris’s campaign, emphasised that there were still votes to be counted, and that the team would continue to fight to ensure all voices were heard.
Despite the setbacks, Trump’s team is preparing for a victory speech at his Palm Beach convention centre. If successful, Trump would make history as the second US President to serve two non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland’s precedent in the 19th century.
The election remains fluid, but with Trump’s projected wins in critical states, the contest has taken a sharp turn in his favour.
