President Obama is urging all Americans to accept the result of Tuesday’s election, and to support Donald Trump in his transition
“The path that this country has taken has never been a straight line,” Obama said in a speech Wednesday. “We zig and zag and sometimes we move in ways that some people think is forward and others think is moving back, and that’s OK.”
He took his own advice by welcoming the president-elect and Melania to the White House on Thursday.
“That’s the way politics works sometimes,” Obama continued. “We try really hard to persuade people that we’re right and then people vote. And then if we lose, we learn from our mistakes, we do some reflection, we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off, we get back in the arena, we go at it. We try even harder the next time.”
Obama said it was “no secret” that he and Trump had major difference, but it was time to move forward.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest in hair, beauty, style and celebrity news.
“Everybody is sad when their side loses an election, but the day after we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We’re not Democrats first. We’re not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We’re patriots first,” Obama said.
“We all want what’s best for this country,” he went on. “That’s what I heard in Mr. Trump’s remarks last night. That’s what I heard when I spoke to him directly. And I was heartened by that.”
We’ll wait and see.