Trump addresses supporters before clinching victory
Former President Donald Trump spoke to supporters at his election headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, early Wednesday morning and declared victory in the presidential race, while votes in several key battleground states were still being counted. A few hours later, CBS News projected that Trump had secured enough electoral votes to win the presidency.
Trump was accompanied by his family and running mate Sen. JD Vance.
"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president," Trump said. "And every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and for your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body."
Trump said America "has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," noting that Republicans have taken back control of the Senate.
"This will truly be the golden age of America," he said.
Trump said he would work to seal up the borders, although he addressed little in the way of policy in his remarks. He praised his campaign and surrogates, particularly expressing thanks to billionaire Elon Musk for his help in recent months.
"Under President Trump's leadership, we're never going to stop fighting for you — for your dreams, for the future of your children," Vance said. "And after the greatest political comeback in American history, we're going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history, under Donald Trump's leadership."
Vice President Kamala Harris was expected to celebrate Election Night at her alma mater, Howard University but after midnight, her campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond told the crowd she won't speak to supporters until at least Wednesday. Harris remained at the vice president's residence in Washington, D.C.
Trump's supporters at his watch party in West Palm Beach were upbeat Tuesday night as results rolled in, with Fox News playing in the background. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum were among those supporters.
Trump has long cast doubt on the integrity of the election and its results. But he was largely silent on social media Tuesday night, once results appeared to return in his favor.
Trump said that after hundreds of rallies, this was the end of campaigning for him.
"I'll never be doing a rally again, can you believe it?" he told his supporters.
CBS News projects Republicans will take control of the Senate when the new Congress begins in January.