In a remarkable comeback four years after his ouster from the White House, Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States, according to projections.
The Associated Press (AP) predicts the former Republican president will get 295 electoral college votes, exceeding the 270 needed to become president.
It follows Trump’s declaration of victory as he spoke to a crowd of cheering supporters at a campaign event in Florida early Wednesday morning local time (6.30pm AEDT), saying it was “time to unite” as a country.
Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University later Wednesday.
Trump is projected to win the swing states of Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Nevada, making it impossible for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris to catch up.
Both Kamala Harris and Trump have focused much of their energy campaigning in Wisconsin; the first There.
Trump won the state by a slim margin in 2016 before President Joe Biden won it back for Democrats in 2020.
Trump but it was not successful.
“The Greatest Political Movement”
Earlier in the night — and joined by his running mate J.D. Vance, his wife Melania and family at an election night party — Trump said he believed “this was the greatest political movement of all time.”
“There has never been anything like this in our country,” he said.
Trump said he wanted to “thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th and 45th president.”
At the time of his speech, the AP had yet to predict a winner.
Trump is the second US president to be re-elected to two non-consecutive terms. The first was Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.
“It’s time to unite”
Trump told the audience it was “time to unite” as a country.
“It’s time to put the divisions of the last four years behind us,” Trump said.
“It’s time to put the divisions of the last four years behind us. It’s time to unite and we will try, we must try and it will happen.
“Success will unite us, I have seen it… Because together we can truly make America great again for all Americans.”
In May, Trump, who served as president from 2016 to 2020, became .
A New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to cover a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
International reactions to Trump’s victory
Numerous world leaders had already congratulated Trump on his victory before the AP predicted he would win enough Electoral College votes.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote that “Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies”.
“By working together, we can ensure that the partnership between our nations and our people remains strong well into the future.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he “appreciated[d] President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs.”
“This is the very principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on “the greatest comeback in history!”
“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a strong commitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship,” Netanyahu wrote on X.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Look[ed] I look forward to working with [Trump] in the years to come.”
“As our closest allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.”
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: “Congratulations, President Donald Trump.
“Ready to work together just as we have been able to do for four years. With your beliefs and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”
