In a bold move on election night, former President Donald Trump declared victory in the U.S. presidential election, addressing a jubilant crowd of supporters in Florida, even as votes in several crucial states continued to be counted. Trump, speaking to his fans at West Palm Beach, appeared energized and confident, announcing, “Look what happened – is this crazy?” and expressing his gratitude to voters. “I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president,” he proclaimed, adding, “I will fight for you and your family and your future, every single day.”
Calling the night a “magnificent victory for the American people,” Trump stated that he had won the popular vote, a feat he did not achieve in his previous 2016 and 2020 bids. “Winning the popular vote was very nice; it’s a great feeling of love,” he shared with the crowd, who erupted in cheers. Trump, 78, went on to promise a “golden age of America,” pledging to bring stability and prosperity back to the nation.
With projected wins in key battleground states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, Trump has significantly narrowed his opponent Kamala Harris’s path to potential victory. Reports from NBC, via Sky News, indicated that Trump is now only a few electoral votes away from securing the presidency, though the final count remains incomplete. Meanwhile, Republicans have confirmed their control of the Senate, while the House of Representatives remains undecided.
In his victory address, Trump reflected on the challenges his campaign faced, saying, “We overcame obstacles that no one thought possible.” His family, including his wife Melania and his children, stood beside him in support. “We’re going to help our country heal; we have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly,” he added, reiterating his commitment to tackling issues like illegal immigration.
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Trump’s speech also hinted at a deeply personal connection to his victory, alluding to an alleged attempt on his life at a Pennsylvania rally earlier this year. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason, and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness,” he shared, calling his supporters to rally behind this mission.
Across the aisle, Kamala Harris’s campaign, which had anticipated a potentially historic outcome, is now adjusting its messaging. Harris, who would have become the first female president, as well as the first Black and South Asian woman to assume the role, postponed her planned speech at Howard University as results trended in Trump’s favor. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, assured supporters that they would continue to fight, stating, “We will continue overnight to make sure every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken.”
With votes still being counted in 21 states, where over 80% of ballots are reported, there is a slight trend in Trump’s favor in seven of those states, with a marginal lead of less than one percentage point in some cases, according to NBC. As the nation awaits the final tallies, the potential for a decisive swing remains uncertain, and the possibility of further recounts and legal challenges looms.
