A top aide to President-elect Trump urged reporters Monday to embrace the “spirit of Thanksgiving” by asking Americans to “respect” the next administration and accept the results of the presidential election.
Former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told members of the press inside Trump Tower that the incoming Republican president “can use your help” in quelling fear and concerns among voters who did not support his White House bid and, in some cases, have violently protested his victory.
“A lot of Americans are having a hard time ‘accepting the results of the election,’ to coin a phrase that was presumed to be said about Trump supporters before the results were in, and I think it’s incumbent upon all of us — the press and others — to follow President Obama’s lead, follow Vice President Biden’s lead and others in telling Americans that this is your president, this is your vice president-elect — respect them and learn to work with them,” Conway said.
Conway said she attended Mass with Trump and Pence in Bedminster, N.J., on Sunday “and the sermon was about having a great heart and meaning thank you and coming together.”
“I think it’s a great theme and we need your help doing that because some people are still in election mode and the election is over,” she told reporters.
Trump met with several media executives and top anchors inside his transition headquarters Monday afternoon for an off-the-record conversation that Conway described as “cordial” and “very productive.”
“From my own perspective, it’s great to hit the reset button,” she said.
