Donald Trump declared victory in the presidential election early Wednesday morning, with Republican Kamala Harris leading in the Electoral College votes expected in the presidential election.
Neither Trump nor Harris got 270 seats Electoral college The votes needed to win the White House.
But after NBC News predicted he would win Pennsylvania, the former president was just four electoral votes away from that goal.
“I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of electing me as your 47th president and your 45th president,” Trump told supporters at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida.
“It is now clear that we have achieved the most wonderful thing politically,” he said.
“We will help our country recover,” Trump said while surrounded by family members and senior members of his campaign. “We will fix everything in our country.”
He said, “America gave us a strong and unprecedented mandate,” which included his Republican colleagues regaining control of the US Senate.
Republican presidential candidate, former US President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 06, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
“This will truly be a golden age for America,” Trump said. “This is a wonderful victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”
Trump praised during his speech Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his support in his election campaign, which included forming a political action committee, America PAC, to support him.
Trump spoke at length about the recent successful landing of Musk’s SpaceX Startup rocket on a launch pad in Texas after the rocket’s upper stage headed for a landing halfway around the world in the Indian Ocean.
“I thought it was a space age movie or something,” Trump said.
Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump celebrate after Fox declared the election in his favor at his rally site, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, November 6, 2024.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
“We have a new star, a star is born, Elon!” Trump said about Musk, the richest person in the world.
Trump also praised his support from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate who ended his campaign for president.
Trump said Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist, would play a key role in determining health care policy in his administration.
“He’s going to help make America healthy again,” Trump said. “He’s a great guy. He really means he wants to do some things, and we’ll let him do it.”
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, said: “Well, Mr. President, I appreciate you letting me join you on this incredible journey.”
“Thank you for the trust you have placed in me,” Vance said. “I believe we have just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.”
Harris was expected to address supporters Tuesday night at the Democrats’ alma mater, Howard University, in Washington, DC.
But the vice president chose not to speak, instead intending to do so later on Wednesday.
