Donald Trump declared victory in the US election while addressing cheering supporters in Florida.

Speaking in West Palm Beach hours before being confirmed the winner of the 2024 election, he told the crowd: “Look what happened, is it crazy?” – adding: “I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president.

“I will fight for you, your family and your future, every day, I will fight for you with every breath of my body.”

He told the crowd that it was a “magnificent victory for the American people,” while asserting that he had also won the popular vote, something he had failed to achieve in his presidential elections of 2016 and 2020.

Mr. Trump has now been officially confirmed as the winner of the election, defeating Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in what was expected to be a neck-and-neck race.

The Republican’s victory makes him the first presidential candidate to win the keys to the White House as a convicted felon.

“Winning the popular vote was very nice, it’s a great feeling of love,” he said during his speech.

The 78-year-old also told his supporters that “this will truly be America’s golden age.”

Mr Trump won in the key battleground states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin – and is ahead in the other three.

According to Sky News’ partner NBC network, Mr. Trump, who was seeking a second term in the White House after his 2016 victory against Hillary Clinton.

Even though the Republican Party’s victory in the Senate has been confirmed, the House is still in play.

“We overcame obstacles that no one thought possible,” Mr. Trump said as his family, including “my beautiful wife Melania” and his “incredible” children, stood by his side.

“We are going to help our country heal, we have a country that needs help and it needs it badly,” he said while renewing his promise to crack down on illegal immigration.

Mr. Trump then appeared to refer to an assassination attempt on him at a rally in Pennsylvania in July, when he said: “A lot of people have told me that God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and give back to America great and now we will accomplish this mission together.”

Latest US elections: Trump predicts key victories

Ms. Harris will not address supporters until later Wednesday, her campaign chairman said.

The vice president was scheduled to deliver a speech at her alma mater, Howard University, after the polls closed, but the mood turned somber as the results began to come in.

Cedric Richmond, co-chair of the Harris campaign, told the crowd at the university: “We will continue to fight all night to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice is cast.

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

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

The world reacts to Trump’s victory

World leaders began reacting to Mr Trump’s speech, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tweeting: “Congratulations to President-elect Trump on your historic election victory.

“I look forward to working with you in the years to come,” he said.

“As our closest allies, we defend our shared values ​​of freedom, democracy and enterprise side by side.

“From growth and security to innovation and technology, I know the special relationship between the UK and US will continue to flourish on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK and a long-time supporter of Mr Trump, tweeted: “He has done it again. The most incredible political comeback of our lifetimes.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has no doubt been watching the election closely as he seeks continued US support in his war against the Hamas militant group in Gaza, said on X: “Congratulations on the most great return to history!”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, another leader counting on renewed U.S. support to fight Russia’s full-scale invasion of his country, also congratulated Mr. Trump on his victory, which he called “impressive”.

Mr. Zelensky said the he appreciated Mr. Trump’s “commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach” in world affairs and this principle could “bring a just peace closer to Ukraine.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Spaniard Pedro Sanchez, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were also among the guests. leaders who congratulated Mr. Trump on his victory.