09 November 2016
Newsdesk
Donald Trump sensationally beat Hillary Clinton on Wednesday (09Nov16) to be named the 45th president of the United States of America.
The Apprentice host is the only candidate for the position in the history of American politics not to be a politician or a member of the military. And despite having almost half the money of Clinton's campaign, Trump emerged the winner of the presidency, beating the former First Lady to 270 Electoral College votes.
After his victory was confirmed, Trump took to the stage at his headquarters and said: "Now it's time for America to bind the wound of division - we have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and Independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people, it's time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I am reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.
"As I've said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of great 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 of from all backgrounds, races, religions and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will."
Trump also revealed he had been telephoned by Clinton to congratulate him on his victory, and praised her for her campaign.
"I've just received a call from Secretary Clinton," he said. "She congratulated us, it's about us, on our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very hard fought campaign, she fought very hard.
"Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country - I mean that very sincerely."
Despite being an underdog throughout the election race, Trump surged ahead as he won several swing states during Tuesday evening (08Nov16), with his victory looking ever more likely as the night progressed.
The state of Ohio was a vital one in the campaign, as it has picked the winning U.S. president during every election since 1964. And after Clinton and Trump both campaigned ferociously for the vote, Ohio gave its 18 electoral college votes to Trump.
Several more swing states followed, including Florida, which was too close to call for the majority of the evening. In total, Trump proved victorious in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
