Statement by the White House Press Secretary

Washington D.C - The President will make a statement on Wednesday at the White House to discuss the election results and what steps we can take as a country to come together after this hard-fought election season.

The President invited the President-elect to meet with him at the White House on Thursday, November 10th, to update him on the transition planning his team has been working on for nearly a year. Ensuring a smooth transition of power is one of the top priorities the President identified at the beginning of the year and a meeting with the President-elect is the next step.

U.S. Figure Skating Statement Regarding Tragedy in Paris, Remainder of Trophee Bompard Cancelled

U.S. Figure Skating is deeply saddened by Friday's tragic events in Paris. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families and the people of France.

We fully support the decision of French authorities to cancel the remaining portion of the 2015 Trophee Bompard event in Bordeaux, France.

U.S. Figure Skating is working with the ISU, the French Federation of Ice Sports and local authorities to ensure the quick and safe return of Team USA.

The Minister of Interior Affairs of France, Bernard Cazeneuve, and the Mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppe, have informed the French Figure Skating Federation (FFSG) that the competition at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event ”Trophee Eric Bompard 2015” in Bordeaux has to be cancelled due to the state of emergency and national mourning days in France.

The International Skating Union (ISU) has acknowledged the decision.

The International Skating Union and the French Figure Skating Federation express their deepest sympathy to the victims of the despicable terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13.

Statement of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh Regarding 9-Alarm Back Bay Fire

Tonight the City of Boston mourns the loss of two of our own. Lt. Ed Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy lost their lives battling the nine-alarm fire on Beacon Street today.

Words cannot do justice to the grief that we feel tonight. Our hearts are heavy with the knowledge that these brave men gave their lives to protect the safety of our city and its people.

The men and women of the Boston Fire Department are the brave heroes who run towards the danger when others run away. A day like today makes us all too aware of what they are risking in the course of doing their jobs. They are heroes simply by virtue of accepting this duty. They put themselves in harm’s way so that others might be safe.

Thank you to the Boston Fire Department, Boston Police Department (Official), Boston EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and all other first responders and volunteers for your heroic work today.

Our thoughts and prayers are with their families tonight as they face this terrible loss. We also hold close their fellow firefighters, who have lost friends as dear as brothers.

CT GOV. MALLOY STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF NELSON MANDELA

Hartford, Connecticut - Governor Dannel P. Malloy released the following statement on Thursday evening regarding the death of Nelson Mandela:

“Nelson Mandela’s ‘long walk to freedom’ changed our world for the better.  The cause of his life became the world’s cause, and in 1987, the State of Connecticut joined him by banning state investments in companies that did business in South Africa in support of his mission of ending racial segregation policies. 

“His reverent passion for justice will continue to inspire generations of citizens to improve social, political, racial, and humanitarian conditions around the world.  While the news of his passing is cause for sorrow, we should be forever grateful for his incomparable contribution to the cause for equality.”