New Delhi: Donald Trump thanked his supporters today and described it as a "magnificent victory for the American people" as he made one of the most stunning comebacks in the US political history with his win over Kamala Harris. He also referred to the July 13 assassination attempt and said "God spared my life for a reason".
The 78-year-old has secured more than 270 electoral college votes needed to defeat his opponent, incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, in the US presidential election 2024. Trump has bagged 280 votes while Harris is at 224.
Describing the Republican campaign as the "greatest political movement of all time", Trump said, "We are going to help our country heal, fix our borders, we made history for a reason tonight. We have achieved the most incredible political win. I want to thank the American people. I will fight for you and your family with every breath in my body."
A massive factor in Trump's victory was the Republican sweep in seven swing or battleground states. From a 6-1 score in favour of Democrats in the 2020 polls, these seven states swung to a 7-0 advantage for Trump. The Republican leader has already won five swing states -- Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Michigan -- and is leading in Arizona and Nevada.
What makes the Republican victory bigger is the fact that they have also taken control of the Senate and are leading in the election for the House of Representatives.
In his victory speech, Trump thanked his supporters, running mate JD Vance, wife Melania Trump and his children for their support in what has been a challenging campaign. He also gave a shoutout to Tesla CEO and X boss Elon Musk, who has been voicing support for Trump.
