Donald Trump wins the race to the White House
Donald Trump is the President elect of the United States after a stunning victory swept him to the White House.
Donald Trump is the President elect of the United States after a stunning victory swept him to the White House.
The Republican candidate took the key swing states of Florida, North Carolina and Ohio early this morning.
In a victory speech in the early hours of the morning in New York Mr Trump vowed he would be a president for “all Americans”. Flanked by his family he told the gathered crowds it is “now time for America to bind the wounds of division and come together”.
He added that “while we will always put American interests first we will deal with everyone. We will seek common ground, not hostility. Partnership, not conflict”.
At the end of one of the most divisive elections in modern US history, the Republican candidate sealed victory when he took key battleground states Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The Clinton camp initially refused to throw in the towel.
But Mr Trump told supporters shortly before 8am UK time: “I’ve just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us – it’s about us – on our victory and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard fought campaign.”
He said: “For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help, so that we can work together and unify our great country.
“As I have said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign, but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women, who love their country and want a better brighter future for themselves, and for their family.
“It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will.”
The Republican will not take his place in the Oval Office until January; and in the meantime President-Elect Trump will prepare his administration and appoint officials.
By law, the president must take his oath of office by noon on January 20. This has been scheduled as the date of the inauguration ceremony traditionally conducted by the Chief Justice.
Mr Trump will then deliver an address, a key event in US politics where he is expected to set out the vision and tone for the first four years of his administration.
However many formalities will have to be completed before he is sworn in.
