Neither can anybody else.
Good point.
Here is how my response would have gone....
“I graciously thank the American people for allowing me to be in the White House and with my husband and daughters. This marks a major event in American history where a black man was president of the United States. I hope and wish that this is a turning point and that those like me will find comfort that we have come a long way as a people.
Now is the time for us to hand the keys over to our successor and I and my husband wish him and his family the best. And most of all, we wish the American people the very best.
May God Bless America!”