WASHINGTON- Donald Trump took the stage in his home state of Florida at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and cruised to victory after winning three critical swing states — North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

He exceeded the 270 electoral votesif he needed to get a second term at 5:34 a.m.

“I will fight for you, and with every breath of my body,” Trump told his supporters gathered at the Palm Beach County Convention Center to cheer him on. “I will not rest until we create the strong, secure, and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.

During his nearly 25-minute speech, Trump said he was impressed with how far his campaign had come, claimed a “mandate” for his agenda and gave a sneak peek at some of the personalities likely to shape his next administration .

Here are some key takeaways from the election night speech.

Trump tries to develop the theme of unity

From the start of his speech, when he told a crowd of cheering supporters “we are going to help our country heal,” to the final moments when he promised to put “divisions” in the rearview mirror, Trump attempted to hit. a unifying tone.

“It is time to put the divisions of the last four years behind us,” he said. “It’s time to unite…success will bring us together.”

Trump did not say his opponent’s name – Vice President Kamala Harris — or any Democrat, for that matter, throughout his roughly 20-minute speech.

The 2024 campaign will likely remain one of the most highly controversial and divisive in history. Trump and Harris exchanged harsh and personal barbs until the final days. Yet both candidates sought to present themselves as figures who could bring the country together.

As the likely winner, Trump will be responsible for achieving this feat.

“Powerful mandate”

Trump not only claimed victory for himself, he also claimed it for the “MAGA movement.”

He described Republican victories in the Senate and House of Representatives as a “powerful mandate” from the American people to implement his agenda. He praised Senate Republicans for taking back the upper chamber and expressed support for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

It remains unclear which party will control the House of Representatives next year. But if Republicans also win a majority of seats in that chamber, Trump will have enormous resources not only to pass his cabinet nominations, but also to pass his legislative agenda.

Returning child

As Election Day approaches, Trump, at his rallies, has described his chances of winning almost, saying that if he didn’t win it would be the result of fraud.

But during his speech Wednesday morning, Trump presented himself as an outsider doing the unthinkable.

“Look what happened, is it crazy,” Trump said, noting the drama he faced, including multiple criminal trials and two assassination attempts against him.

“This is a movement like no one has seen before,” Trump said.

His running mate, J.D. Vancetold the crowd that Trump’s victory represented “the greatest political comeback in American history.”

Trump’s influence on pop culture

Trump thanked an eclectic group of billionaires, pop culture figures and loyal Republican lawmakers during his victory speech, demonstrating the breadth of his support.

The diversity of people also provides insight into who Trump might turn to as advisors during his transition and next administration.

“A star is born – Elon,” Trump said, referring to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who invested millions of dollars to help Trump win.

He then invited Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship take the microphone. And in turn, White paid tribute to two other major American media figures, podcasters Theo Von and Joe Rogan. Von and Rogan, who both have millions of listeners, have interviewed Trump on their shows. Rogan endorsed Trump in the final hours of the 2024 campaign.

Trump also mentioned former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suggested he could play a major public health role in the White House.

Religious connotations

Since the assassination attempt on him in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump has increasingly used religious rhetoric to describe himself. Wednesday morning was no exception.

“A lot of people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” Trump said. “And that reason was to save our country and make America great again. And now we’re going to fulfill that mission together.”

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: 5 takeaways from Trump’s victory speech