President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Vice President-elect Mike Pence as he gives his acceptance speech during his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump claimed his place Nov. 9 as America’s 45th president, an astonishing victory for the celebrity businessman and political novice who capitalized on voters’ economic anxieties, took advantage of racial tensions and overcame a string of sexual assault allegations on his way to the White House.
His triumph over Hillary Clinton, not declared until well after midnight, will end eight years of Democratic dominance of the White House and threatens to undo major achievements of President Barack Obama. Trump has pledged to act quickly to repeal Obama’s landmark health care law, revoke America’s nuclear agreement with Iran and rewrite important trade deals with other countries, particularly Mexico and Canada.
As he claimed victory, Trump urged Americans to “come together as one united people” after a deeply divisive campaign.
“I say it is time for us to come together as one united people,” Trump told supporters gathered in a Manhattan hotel near his Trump Tower campaign headquarters.
“For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so we can work together and unify our great country,” he said, the stage crowded with family and his most loyal allies.
Jason Chung, Trump’s coalitions senior advisor, told NBC News that the American people have spoken and want a new direction for all Americans, including Asians. “He spoke about bringing all Americans together, all ethnicities, and he will do that,” Chung said.
Trump said he had spoken by phone with Clinton and they had exchanged congratulations on a hard-fought race.
Trump, who spent much of the campaign urging his supporters on as they chanted “lock her up,” said the nation owed her “a major debt of gratitude” for her years of public service.
President Obama phoned Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory. And the President called Secretary Clinton and expressed admiration for the strong campaign she waged throughout the country.
The President also invited the President-elect to meet with him at the White House on Nov. 10, to update him on the transition planning his team has been working on for nearly a year.