Hillary Clinton, the perceived frontrunner for nearly all the 2016 season, conceded to Donald Trump in a Wednesday morning speech.
Hillary Clinton has broken her hours-long silence after she chose not to address supporters following her devastating loss to Donald Trump early Wednesday.
Speaking at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel in Manhattan, Clinton received a long, standing ovation. "Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him," Clinton said. "I'm sorry that we did not win this election for the values we hold."
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Clinton offered her goodbyes and her thank yous as her decades-long public service career, presumably, came to a close.
"You represent the best of America," she told her campaign and supporters. "We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America and I always will."
Clinton was joined by her running mate Tim Kaine, who celebrated her many victories that lead to her historic run, while also lamenting how "uniquely difficult" that the country she's served in so many ways has made it for a woman to become their president.
"Donald Trump is going to be our president, we owe him an open mind and a chance to lead," the former first lady said.
Acknowledging that the loss was "painful," Clinton said "I've had successes and I've had setbacks, sometimes really painful ones," then addressed the nation's young people specifically.
"This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it," she said. "To all the women, especially young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me, nothing has made me feel prouder than to be your champion."
Clinton also referenced the famous concession speech she gave after losing the Democratic primary to Barack Obama in 2008. "I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will and hopefully sooner than we think right now."
In closing, Clinton also made clear that the fight she took to the campaign trail will go on.
"Let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary, let us not lose heart," she said. "I am incredibly honored and grateful to have represented all of you in this consequential election."
While Clinton reportedly called Trump to congratulate him following his win, she did not concede publicly at that time. Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, told Today that the conversation was convivial.
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"They resolved to work together, which is exactly what this country needs... to help unify and heal the country," Conway said.
President Obama was also slated to speak about Trump's win. He was expected to be joined by Vice President Joe Biden around noon Wednesday.
Obama has also invited Trump to meet with him at the White House on Thursday, as is tradition.
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