In a stunning turn of events, Hillary Clinton has lost the 2016 election to Republican opponent Donald Trump, who was elected the 45th president of the United States on Wednesday, November 9. Hours after the official announcement, the former secretary of state, 69, delivered her concession speech in the Grand Ballroom of the New Yorker Hotel in the morning.
Read Us Weekly’s liveblog of Clinton’s historic speech below:
11:54 a.m. ET: The former secretary of state ends her speech and embraces her family on stage.
11:53 a.m. ET: “I believe that we are stronger together and will go forward together! And you should never, ever regret doing that… Let us have faith in each other, for there are more seasons to come and more work to be done.”
11:52 a.m. ET: “And to all the little girls whose are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams. Finally — finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me. I count my blessings every single day that I am an American, and I still believe as deeply as I ever have that if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strength in our convictions and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.”
11:51 a.m. ET: “We need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all the woman, and especially the young women who put their faith in this campaign and to me, nothing has made me prouder than being your champion. I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but some day, someone will, and hopefully sooner than we might think right now.”
11:50 a.m. ET: “Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power and we don’t just respect that, we cherish it. It also enshrines other things. The rule of law, the principle that we are all equal in rights and dignity, freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.”
11:46 a.m. ET: “To Barack and Michelle Obama, our country owes you an enormous debt. We thank you for your graceful, determined leadership that has meant so much to people across the world. And to Bill and Chelsea, Marc, Charlotte and Aiden… my love for you means more than I could ever express.”
11:45 a.m. ET: “Now, our responsibility as citizens is to keep doing our part to build that better, stronger, fairer America we seek, and I know you will. I am so grateful to stand with all of you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and Anne Holton for being our partners on this journey. It has been a joy getting to know them better and it gives me great hope and comfort to know that Tim will remain on the front lines of our democracy representing Virginia in the senate.”
11:44 a.m. ET: “And let me add, our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time. So let’s do all we can to keep advancing the causes and values we all hold dear. Making our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top, protecting our country and protecting our planet, and breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams. We have spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone, for people of all races and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people and for people with disabilities. For everyone.”
11:43 a.m. ET: “I still believe in America and I always will. And if you do, we must accept this result… We owe [Trump] an open mind and the chance to lead.”
11:42 a.m. ET: “I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it, too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful and it will be for a long time.”
11:40 a.m. ET: “Last night I congratulated Donald Trump,” she said. “This is not the outcome we wanted or worked so hard for and I’m sorry we didn’t win this election… I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we created together… You represent the best of America and being your candidate has been one of the biggest honors of my life.”
11:40 a.m. ET: Clinton takes the stage after walking out with former president Bill Clinton. She receives a round of applause and standing ovation.
11:34 a.m. ET: Clinton is introduced by her running mate, Tim Kaine. “My wife [Ann] and I are so proud of Hillary Clinton. She has been and is a great history maker in everything she has done,” he said. “She has made history in a nation that is so good in so many things but has made it so uniquely difficult for a women to make it into a federal office … Last night she won the popular vote from Americans. That is an amazing accomplishment.”
“I’m excited and proud of Hillary because she has built such a wonderful team,” he continued. “And finally, I’m proud of Hillary because she loves this country… She knows our country for what it is… She is deeply in love with it and accepts it.”
Kaine then revealed that he spoke with Clinton and her family for three hours after she asked him to be by her side during the election and quoted William Faulkner. ‘They killed us, but ain’t whooped us yet,'” he said.
11:33 a.m. ET: Clinton’s top aide Huma Abedin takes her seat in the front row.
11:23 a.m. ET: Clinton staffers arrive to the Grand Ballroom and are greeted by cheers from the audience. They appear emotional while hugging some supporters in the crowd.
11:05 a.m. ET: Clinton leaves Peninsula hotel to head to the New Yorker Hotel.
As previously reported, Clinton decided not to speak to her supporters at the Javits Center following the shocking results, which went late into the night. Instead, she retreated back to the Peninsula hotel with her family.
Trump, 70, defeated the first female nominee to represent a major U.S. political party after causing controversy throughout his campaign. Former secretary of state Clinton has been vocal about how the country is better together, despite their differences. In an emotional post ahead of the polls being called, Clinton posted an Instagram with the caption: “This team has so much to be proud of. Whatever happens tonight, thank you for everything.”
In one of her final speeches, Clinton remained optimistic for the future of the country.
“Years from today, when your kids and grandkids ask what you did in 2016, when everything was on the line, I want you to be able to say that you did vote,” Clinton said during a rally on Monday, November 7, at the Independence Mall in Philadelphia alongside President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama before polls opened. “You voted for an inclusive, big-hearted, open-minded country — a future that will make sure that we all keep moving together. Because I do believe we are stronger together. And you voted for an America where we build bridges, not walls.”
