Republican candidate Donald Trump declared victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election early Wednesday, as Fox News projected he held 277 Electoral College votes, surpassing the 270 needed to clinch the presidency.
As Trump addressed his supporters at his election headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, no other major U.S. media outlets had officially called the election in his favor.
“It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before,” Trump said, expressing gratitude to the American people “for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.” He pledged to “help our country heal” and promised that “the U.S.-Mexico borders will be fixed.”
“I will fight for you, for your family, and your future,” Trump continued, emphasizing his commitment to delivering “the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve and you deserve.”
At the time of his speech, most U.S. media outlets reported Trump’s Electoral College vote tally at either 266 or 267. Key battleground states of North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania were called in his favor, with Georgia and Pennsylvania flipping from four years ago when they were carried by Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump was also leading his opponent, Democratic candidate and incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, in the swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada, where the results remained too close to call. With votes still being counted nationwide, Harris’s path to the White House appeared increasingly narrow.
Harris, who held her election night headquarters in Washington, D.C., did not address her supporters during the night.
(With input from Xinhua)
Reference(s):
Trump declares victory in election night speech addressing supporters
cgtn.com
