Kamala Harris has urged Americans to show loyalty to God in her speech conceding the US Presidential election.  

Speaking hours after Donald Trump surpassed the number of votes needed to secure him another term in the White House, she took to the podium outside Howard University in Washington, which she used to attend.

In a speech referring to metaphors of light and dark, she acknowledged that the result was “not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright.”

While urging her supporters to “never give up” and “keep fighting” she went on to say “in our nation, we owe loyalty, not to a president or a party, but to the Constitution of the United States, and loyalty to our conscience and to our God. My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign.”

Echoing speeches by Martin Luther King Jr, she said she wouldn’t give up fighting for “freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people” and “a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspiration”.

And borrowing from the civil rights leader’s famous 1968  “I’ve been to the Mountain top” speech, the 60 year old Vice President said: “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.

“I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time – and for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case… But America, if it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, billion stars. The light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service.”

The former Presidential candidate also urged Americans to model values of community, kindness and respect by “looking in the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbour, by always using our strength to lift people up, to fight for the dignity that all people deserve."

Ms Harris will continue serving as US Vice President until Mr Trump’s inauguration as the country’s 47th President in January.