Donald Trump’s surprising comments to political opponent Kamala Harris when she called to concede the 2024 Presidential Election have been revealed.
Trump made history upon his victory in the 2024 election last November.
Not only did he become the second US president to win non-consecutive terms, mirroring Grover Cleveland’s achievement and achieving an incredible political comeback, but he also became the oldest elected US president at 78.
The campaign trail was full of drama – not least with President Joe Biden stepping down, Vice President Harry stepping up, and a couple of attempts on Trump’s life – but it was also full of plenty of venomous jabs between the Democratic and Republican nominees.
However, when all was said and done and the decision was clear, it appears as if the disdain between Trump and Harris had washed away.
Yes, in a surprising moment of civility following one of the most chaotic presidential elections in US history, Trump reportedly praised Harris as a “tough cookie” and congratulated her on running a “great” campaign during her concession call, according to a new book by author and journalist Chris Whipple.
The account – detailed in Whipple’s forthcoming book Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History – reveals a rare instance of cordiality from Trump towards the outgoing Biden/Harris camp.
“I’m calling to concede. It was a fair election. The peaceful transfer of power is important. It’s important to the country,” Harris told Trump, per the book. She added a pointed remark: “I hope you’re president for all Americans.”
Harris called Trump to concede defeat. Credit: Andrew Harnik / Getty
Rather than react defensively, Trump reportedly responded with unexpected warmth. “You’re a tough cookie. You were really great. And that Doug — what a character! I love that guy,” he said, referencing Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, per the New York Post.
The moment stunned those within Harris’ inner circle. One aide described Trump’s tone as “odd and inappropriate.” “I was like, what?” the aide said. “Honestly, I felt like, what is this? It’s so manipulative. He’s a sociopath.”
The call itself nearly didn’t happen due to technical glitches. According to Whipple, Harris’ campaign Chief of Staff Sheila Nix and White House Chief of Staff Lorraine Voles had to press two phones together to complete the connection between Harris, calling from the Naval Observatory, and Trump.
As Harris heard Trump’s voice come through, she “felt the weight of the crushing defeat,” Whipple writes.
Trump was surprisingly cordial to his political opponent. Credit: Andrew Harnik / Getty
Since that call, Harris has made only a few public appearances — but they’ve been politically charged.
On Thursday, the former vice president spoke at the Leading Women Defined summit in California, a high-profile gathering for Black women leaders, where she hinted at her future in politics.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Harris declared during her nearly eight-minute speech, The Hill reports.
Though she didn’t mention Trump by name, she made veiled references to the direction of the country under his renewed leadership. “There were many things that we knew would happen, many things,” she said, smiling as the audience erupted in cheers. “I’m not here to say, ‘I told you so.’ I swore I wasn’t going to say that.”
Political insiders speculate Harris is considering a run for California governor in 2026. While she has not officially announced her intentions, she’s expected to make a decision by summer’s end.
Early polling already positions her as the Democratic frontrunner, with nearly 60% of likely primary voters supporting her, according to a February Emerson College/Inside California Politics/The Hill survey.
Harris says she’s not going anywhere. Credit: Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Her potential bid could reshape the political landscape in California, where former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has already launched his campaign to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom, who is barred from running again due to term limits.
As Harris contemplates her next move, the moment with Trump — an unexpected display of mutual recognition — offers a strange postscript to an intensely polarized election season.
Whipple’s book, which delves into the behind-the-scenes drama of the 2024 race, is set to hit shelves Tuesday.
