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Donald Trump vows to ‘heal the country’ as he declares victory in US presidential election

Donald Trump has declared victory in the US election as he addressed jubilant supporters in Florida – but votes in key states are still being counted.

Speaking at West Palm Beach, he told crowds: “Look what happened – is this crazy?” – adding: “I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president.”

He told the crowd he had won a “magnificent victory for the American people”.

Trump has won in the key battleground states of Georgia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina – and is leading in several others – narrowing Kamala Harris’s path to victory significantly.

US election latest: Trump projected key wins

Harris will now not address her supporters until later on Wednesday, her campaign chair has said.

The vice president had been scheduled to make a speech at her alma mater, Howard University, after the polls closed, but the mood grew sombre as results began to trickle in.

Donald Trump. Pic: Eric Trump
Image:
Donald Trump moments before addressing his supporters. Pic: Eric Trump

Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, told the crowds at the university: “We will continue overnight to fight to make sure, every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken.

“So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow. She will be back here tomorrow.”

Cedric Richmond addresses attendees at the rally for U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, at Howard University, in Washington, U.S., November 6, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Image:
Cedric Richmond tells Harris supporters she will not be speaking tonight. Pic: Reuters

The Howard community had been preparing for a historic night – Harris would become the first woman, black woman and South Asian American to assume the presidency, if elected.

But in the 21 remaining states where more than 80% of the vote has been counted, there has been a swing towards Donald Trump, NBC News reports.

In seven of them, the swing is less than one point.

Read more:
Attempts to overturn Florida abortion ban fail
America’s night of historic firsts
What are the seven key battleground states?

The largest swings – of more than five points – are in New Jersey and Florida.

No other state has a swing higher than three points.

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