House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on winning the presidency and said in a statement that she would “pray for his success.”
“The peaceful transfer of power is the cornerstone of our democracy,” Pelosi said.
She noted that Trump had won the electoral college, while Hillary Clinton won the popular vote — though vote tallies are still being finalized.
“We have a responsibility to come together and find common ground,” Pelosi said. “Only by recognizing and respecting the important contributions that all Americans make to our country’s success can we build an inclusive and stronger future for America.”
Pelosi also thanked Clinton for her candidacy and leadership, and for being “a magnificent force for good in our country.”
In September, Pelosi told The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart that she was “absolutely” confident Clinton would be elected president and even expressed hope Democrats could take back a majority in the House of Representatives.
When Capehart asked her then about the possibility of a “President Trump” instead, Pelosi responded: “Those two words will never go together.”