The U.S. Has Its Next President: Donald Trump
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The people of the United States have chosen their next president and it's Donald Trump.
The Associated Press projected the win at 2:31 a.m. on Wednesday.
Shortly after CBS News confirmed Hillary Clinton called Trump to concede, the Trump campaign began to set in motion his acceptance speech.
Trump's vice presidential candidate Mike Pence was the first to take the mic at the Midtown Hilton in New York.
"This is a historic night. The American people have spoken and the American people have elected their new champion," Mike Pence told Trump supporters who stuck around.
He then thanked his family, the campaign's supporters and God, before introducing Trump.
"It is my high honor and distinct privilege to introduce to you the president-elect of the United States of America, Donald Trump," Pence said.
Pence tagged out and in came the champion, in very Trump fashion.
"Sorry to keep you busy, complicated business. Thank you very much," he said with a laugh.
Trump then acknowledged his Democratic challenger called to concede.
"I just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us on our victory and I congratulated her on a very hard fought campaign," he said.
Trump then pivoted to his plan for the nation, beginning with unification.
"It's time for us to come together as one united people. I pledge that I will be President for all America," he said. "Working together we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and renewing the American dream. America will no longer settle for anything less than the best. We must reclaim our country's destiny."
This mark the end to a long and contentious presidential race.
The candidates themselves voted in New York, where they watched the results roll in Tuesday evening.
The Clinton team watched the results come in at a party under an actual glass ceiling.
While Trump watched the results come in only a few blocks away at the Grand Ballroom of the Midtown Hilton.
About 30 minutes before the AP's announcement, Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta told the crowd at the Javits Center there were still too many votes left to count and so they were "not going to have anything more to say tonight."
The Republican presidential nominee called it a tremendous honor to run for president, while Clinton said voting for herself earlier on Tuesday was a humbling experience.
Many voters are just relieved that the mudslinging has come to an end.
The nearly two-year race was tainted on both sides with an FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a personal email server and whether she may have mishandled confidential information.
On the Trump side, a 2005 video was released in which Trump was heard making vulgar comments about the way he allegedly treated women.
Click here to read more about Campaign 2016. For the final results in the general election, click here.
