Trump publicly claims victory, set for White House return
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More news: Donald Trump has publicly declared victory in the US presidential election, becoming the second president to return to the White House after losing power.
Speaking to supporters at his Mar-a-Lago headquarters, Trump said Americans have given him an “unprecedented and powerful mandate” after Republicans also reclaimed control over the Senate. Trump said he also expected to retain the House of Representatives, which was still up for grabs.
The former president appeared on course for victory on Wednesday night (AEDT), with the Associated Press calling a series of key swing states – including Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina – for the Republican.
The win in Pennsylvania, a crucial state, put him on the brink of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. As the 45th and 47th president, he will become the second to serve non-consecutive terms.
For hours, Vice President Kamala Harris’ only possible path appeared to be via the so-called ‘Blue Wall’ states won by Joe Biden in 2020 – Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. She was trailing in all three as of 6pm Wednesday night.
Before Trump took to the stage, Harris’ campaign confirmed she would not speak on Tuesday evening (US time) as the count continued.
Separately, Fox News has declared Trump the overall winner.
What they said: “I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America,” Trump said.
Trump wins North Carolina, the first swing state to fall
More news: Associated Press has declared former president Donald Trump has won North Carolina, making it the first of seven swing states to be called for the Republican nominee.
Trump will carry North Carolina’s 16 electoral college votes, and currently holds a lead in five other battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Nevada has yet to begin its count.
Notably, he holds a three-point lead with more than 80% of the vote counted in Pennsylvania, considered the most important state in the race.
He is currently outperforming his results in 2020, when he lost the presidency to Joe Biden.
Trump takes commanding lead in all key swing states
The news: Former US president Donald Trump is on course to return to the White House, with early results showing him leading Vice President Kamala Harris in all key swing states.
The context: As of 3pm (AEDT), Trump was ahead in six of the seven key swing states with Nevada yet to begin reporting results, according to the Associated Press. At that time, The New York Times gave the former president an 87% chance of winning the election.
Early results showed Harris failing to retain the gains secured in 2020 by President Joe Biden, who won the so-called “Rust Belt” and “Sun Belt” states.
And they also appeared to show the Democrats’ so-called ‘Blue Wall’ — Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin — collapsing.
Harris could afford to lose North Carolina, Nevada and Arizona, provided she held onto those Blue Wall states. That would have given her 270 electoral college votes, a slender victory.
But Trump led 51-48 in Pennsylvania, arguably the race’s most important state, with 67% of the vote counted. Harris also trailed 51-47 in Michigan (with 28% of the vote counted) and Wisconsin (with 57% of the vote counted).
Trump held a commanding lead in Georgia (with 93% of the vote counted) and was slightly ahead in Arizona (with 53% of the vote counted).
A judge was forced to extend voting hours in some parts of Atlanta, Georgia after bomb threats were made against 32 polling places in the county. Atlanta is the state’s largest city and has tended to swing for the Democrats.
Republicans were also making gains in the Senate, where they are seeking to overturn a 51-49 margin, picking up a key seat in West Virginia.
What they said: “Starting on Day 1, President Trump … will help ease costs, secure the border, and protect social security for retirees like Ann Selzer,” Trump Iowa campaigner Alex Latcham said as he aimed a dig at pollster Ann Selzer, who incorrectly predicted Harris would win the state.
The sources: The New York Times, AP
