The United States fell short of electing its first female president in Kamala Harris last night, and today, her most passionate supporters are grappling with the loss and seeking a way forward.

Hours after Donald Trump secured both the electoral and popular vote in the contentious 2024 U.S. election, former President Barack Obama and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, shared their heartfelt reactions.

“This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a wide range of issues,” Barack and Michelle said in a joint message shared on Instagram. “But living in a democracy means acknowledging that our perspective won’t always prevail, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power.”

The Obamas expressed immense pride in Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, calling them “extraordinary public servants” who ran a remarkable campaign.

Barack emphasized that while the country faces many challenges, they are all solvable “if we listen to each other, and only if we abide by the core constitutional principles and democratic norms that have made this country great.”

The couple closed with a call for unity: “In a country as large and diverse as ours, we won’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace – even to those with whom we deeply disagree. That’s how we’ve come this far, and it’s how we’ll continue building a country that is more fair, just, equal, and free.”

 

Barack served as the 44th president of the United States and was the first African American to hold the office. During his eight years in the White House, he was widely praised for his handling of the Great Recession, the introduction of Obamacare, and his advocacy for equal pay for women, among numerous other achievements. In 2009, he became the fourth president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Throughout Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, both Barack and Michelle were steadfast supporters and influential voices. At the Democratic National Convention, they delivered impassioned speeches in support of Harris, with Barack sharply criticizing Donald Trump, stating, “America is ready for a new chapter. America’s ready for a better story.” Michelle echoed this sentiment, declaring, “America, hope is making a comeback.”