America’s Leaders Make an Effort to Unite the Country After the Election

From a major political party’s first female candidate to a political outsider clinching a nomination, the 2016 presidential election has been historic in more ways than one. But since the moment former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and businessman Donald Trump first launched their campaigns in this year’s heated race for the White House, one thing has been made increasingly clear: America is more divided than ever.

The wedge between Clinton and Trump supporters has been evident everywhere, including the debates, political ads and even social media posts from the candidates themselves. But now that Trump has officially been declared the President-elect of the United States, the nation’s leaders are changing their messages in an effort to bring the country back together.

On Wednesday, Clinton delivered a powerful concession speech in which she acknowledged that this was not the outcome she and her campaign team wanted and apologized to her supporters. But she explained that she spoke with Trump on election night and offered to work with him as he takes on his new role.

She said, “Donald Trump is going to be our President. We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead.” She continued, “Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power and we don’t just respect that, we cherish it.”

Clinton also spoke directly to the next generation of women leaders, saying that she has been proud to be their champion and encourages them to continue fighting for what they believe in.

“I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday, someone will, and hopefully sooner than we might think right now,” she said.

President Obama echoed Clinton’s remarks in a separate speech early Wednesday afternoon. He said that while he and Trump share different views, everyone in the country is on the same team.

Obama said, “It’s no secret that the president-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember, eight years ago President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences.” He continued, “We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country. The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. And over the next few months, we are going to show that to the world.”

President-elect Trump is also altering his messaging to reflect the importance of unifying the country after the aggressive campaigning throughout the entire election season. After being projected the winner in the middle of the night, Trump made a promise to both his supporters and challengers that he would work together with everyone to ensure that the government serves all Americans.

In his victory speech, Trump said, “Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division – we have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be President for all Americans.”

Whether or not those plans to unite the country will work is yet to be seen. And as uncertainty continues to surround the results of the 2016 presidential election, the future of the franchising industry remains up in the air. That means that as inauguration day and Trump’s presidency near, the industry’s leaders will have to fight to have their voice heard on key issues like minimum wage, overtime pay and the National Labor Relations Board’s joint employer standard. The decisions made while Trump is in office ultimately have the potential to determine the future of franchising as a whole.