In a stunning upset that many commentators are calling the most shocking political result in history, Donald Trump will become the 45th US President.
Such a shame!!!!!#Cancela2016 #RIPUSA pic.twitter.com/8basbXpRX4
— Inez Sousa (@Inez_Sousa) 9. November 2016
The victory was won in the swing states.
Trump defied pre-election polling to win:
- Florida (29) – 49.2% to 47.7%
- Ohio (18) – 52.1% to 43.5%
- Pennsylvania (20) – 48.8% to 47.7%
- Wisconsin (10) 47.9% to 47.0%
- North Carolina (15) – 50.5% to 46.7%
Votes are still being counted and it looks as though Hillary Clinton will win the popular vote, but in the Electoral College system, Trump won in a landslide., currently 276 to 218.
Trump has so far won 28 US states. Clinton, has only notched up victories in 18 US states and the District of Columbia.
New Hampshire and Michigan remained too close to call as of Wednesday morning.
It was the victory in Wisconsin which gave Trump the overall edge, minutes after which, Clinton called him to concede and Trump took to the stage at the Hilton Hotel in New York.
“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”, said Trump.
Such a beautiful and important evening! The forgotten man and woman will never be forgotten again. We will all come together as never before
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2016
Very few people thought he would actually run, very few thought he would climb in the polls, very few thought he would win any primaries, and they said he could never overcome the Republican establishment resistance – but he did all these things.
He stayed true to the unconventional tactics that got him as far as the Republican nominee, and in the end was rewarded for that.
Global markets fell sharply at the news but later recovered somewhat.
Around the globe, leaders have been reacting to America’s election upset:
- Germany’s foreign minister said the outcome would make things “more difficult’, with US foreign policy “less predictable”
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped ties could improve from their current “critical condition”
- The European Union said close co-operation with the US was the only way to deal with “unprecedented challenges” around the world
Some are still hoping it was all a bad dream:
Still holding out for Trump to make good on his promise to not accept the election result.#presidenttrump
— John Johnsonson (@JohnJohnsonson) November 9, 2016