US election 2024: Donald Trump claims ‘magnificent victory’, Kamala Harris concedes
Democrat Kamala Harris has called Republican Donald J. Trump to concede the US presidential election, capping a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he said on Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre.
Trump thanked the American people for “being elected the 45th and 47th president.”
“This will be the golden age of America. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”
World leaders have started to reach out to Trump, including New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon who said he was looking “forward to building New Zealand’s relationship with his incoming Administration”.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER LIVE BLOG
That's all folks
Andrew Laxon
That's all for now in our live blog coverage of the 2024 US election. Thanks for following it with us.
You can still keep up with all the latest stories on nzherald.co.nz or head straight to our US election page at nzherald.co.nz/uselection
Peters speaks with former US Ambassador to NZ
Tom Dillane
Kamala Harris’ running mate Tim Walz issues statement, describes campaign as ‘privilege of my life’
Tom Dillane
Australian PM Anthony Albanese speaks with Trump
Tom Dillane
Trump accepts Biden’s invite to the White House
Tom Dillane
Trump has accepted his invitation to the White House from President Joe Biden, according to his communications director Steven Cheung.
No date had been announced but it “would take place shortly”, Cheung said.
Biden today called to congratulate Trump on his presidential election victory and offer the invitation.
In a statement, Biden committed "to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together”.
‘America is bigger than the results of any one election’ - Former President Bill Clinton issues statement
Tom Dillane
Luxon plays straight bat to questions on Trump’s presidential election victory
Tom Dillane
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is calling Donald Trump’s victory a “comprehensive win”.
Luxon seemed unsure whether Trump really would put a 20% tariff on our exports to the US.
“It’s a new administration. They’re just getting over their win. They’ll take time to settle into what they want to do,” he said.
“What I’m confident about is that we’ll find a way to work incredibly well with the US.”
Luxon refused to givehis personal opinions on the outcome of the election.
When it was pointed out he once had election hoardings for the Democrats on his lawn when he lived in Chicago, and has spoken of his admiration of former president Barack Obama in the past, Luxon still declined to say whether yesterday’s result left him disappointed.
Luxon spoke this morning from the opening of a new aluminum can factory in South Auckland.
Where will Walz Go?
Tom Dillane
As Harris’ running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was leaving her concession speech at Howard University, a reporter asked “What’s next?’
“Minnesota,” Walz replied.
CNN reported that Walz is travelling back to his home state tonight. He is yet to make a formal statement.
President Joe Biden pays tribute to Harris’ as ‘the best decision I made’
Tom Dillane
Melania Trump reflects on the ‘important responsibility’ entrusted to the incoming administration
Tom Dillane
Nancy Pelosi calls for Americans to ‘find common ground’
Tom Dillane
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that she is praying for the success of America under the new administration.
“The peaceful transfer of power is the cornerstone of our democracy,” Pelosi said.
“After every election, we all have a responsibility to come together and find common ground.”
Pelosi has been one of the loudest critics of Trump and previously vowed to ensure he never enters the White House again.
Former Vice President in the last Trump Administration, Mike Pence, offers congratulations
Tom Dillane
Trump’s team yet to sign White House agreements for access to sensitive information
Tom Dillane
The Associated Press is reporting Trump’s transition team is yet to sign agreements with the White House and the General Services Administration that allow them access to federal facilities, documents and personnel.
Biden’s White House team is reportedly urging the president-elect to enter into the required agreements.
It is delaying the federal government’s ability to begin processing security clearances for potential Trump administration national security appointees. This would potentially limit the number of his staff who could work on sensitive information by Inauguration Day.
Impact of US election result on NZ to be discussed in Question Time
Tom Dillane
Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, reaffirms need for cooperation with US
Tom Dillane
Winston Peters positive about NZ’s relationship with incoming Trump Administration
Tom Dillane
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Kerre Woodham this morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the Government was confident it was “ready to go” in engaging with the incoming Trump Administration.
“We have got some serious connections with the incoming administration, that’s the key part here,” he said.
He mentioned New Zealand’s “very experienced Ambassador” in Washington who he said was there “to ensure if there was a change in the election results in America against what the media forecast, we’d be ready to go and we are.”
Peters is referencing NZ Ambassador to the US Rosemary Banks. She’s a senior New Zealand diplomat who served in the role between 2018 and 2022 (during part of Donald Trump’s previous term), and was reappointed earlier this year after serving ambassador Bede Corry was announced as the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said the Government would take the next couple of months – prior to President Trump being sworn in again – to make reconnections.
He said a lot of work has previously gone into getting a free trade agreement with the United States when Trump was last President, between 2017 and 2021.
“We didn’t take the chance when it was all set to go. We cannot afford to make this mistake next time.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier this week admitted there was little political appetite in the US for such a deal and he didn’t see that changing.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirms call with Donald Trump
Tom Dillane
Barack Obama: 'Not the outcome we had hoped for'
Kurt Bayer
Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have released a statement, reacting to the election results.
"This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues," they said in the statement posted to X.
Macron’s ‘very warm conversation’ with President-elect
Kurt Bayer
French President Emmanuel Macron claimed to be among the first world leaders to speak with President-elect Donald Trump, Washington Post reports.
The two had a 25-minute call Wednesday, according to information shared by the French Embassy in Washington, in which they touched on Russia’s war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.
“They had a very warm conversation, building on their strong preexisting relationship,” The Post reports the embassy as saying.
Macron and Trump had something of a bromance in the first Trump administration.
But tensions between them were evident by the time of Trump’s November 2018 visit to Paris, when Trump complained about Macron’s comments about European defence and French tariffs on wine, while citing Macron’s approval rating and French unemployment figures. In a new Trump administration, the two are expected to clash on continued support for Ukraine and a possible trade war.
-Washington Post
'We must accept the results of the election': Harris addresses the nation
Kurt Bayer
Kamala Harris is addressing the nation after conceding the presidential election in a private phone call to Donald Trump where she discussed handing over the White House.
The Vice President walked onto the stage at Howard University, her alma mater, to "Freedom" by Beyonce, greeted by rapturous applause.
"Good afternoon, thank you all, thank you, thank you," she began.
"My heart is full today, full of gratitude in the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve."
She said this result was not what they wanted nor what they voted for.
"But let me say, the light of America promise will never die... as long as never give up, as long as keep fighting."
She thanked her husband, family, Joe Biden, and Tim Walz and his family, along with her team and volunteers, the poll workers and officials.
"I am so proud of the race we ran and the way we ran it," Harris said.
"Bringing people together from every race and background, united by love and country... for our fight for America's future.
"And we did it with the knowledge that we did it that we have more in common than what separates us."
A chorus of boos sounded when she talked about speaking to Trump, but the crowd applauded when she mentioned a "peaceful transfer of power".
"We must accept the results of the election," she said.
"We owe loyalty not to the President, not to a person, but to the constitution of the United States.
"While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fulled this campaign.
"That is a fight I will never give up."
Harris spoke about the fight for women's right to choose what happens to their bodies, and the fight to combat gun violence.
"Every one of us... has fundamental rights and freedoms that should be respected and upheld."
She wanted everyone in the crowd to treat everyone with kindness and respect: "To fight for the dignity that all people deserve."
"The fight for freedom will be hard work, but like I say, hard work is good work... and hard work for this country is always worth it," Harris said.
She said to the young people watching that it was "okay to feel sad and disappointed."
"I said we fight, we win... sometimes winning takes a while.
"Don't you let anyone tell you something is impossible just because it has never been done before.
"Do not despair, this is not the time to throw up our hands, it is the time to roll up our sleeves."
Winding up her address, Harris said: "Only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.
"Let us fill the sky with the light of billions of stars, the light of optimism, faith, truth and service.
"And may that work guide us even in the face of setbacks.
"I thank you all, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."
Belarus leader gets on front foot
Kurt Bayer
Belarus’ authoritarian leader President Alexander Lukashenko has congratulated Donald Trump.
“You did it first and foremost in the name of America and its citizens. I wish you good health, well-aimed political decisions that will make America great again,” Lukashenko said in a statement, according to AP.
During the first Trump administration, Trump adopted two packages of sanctions against Belarus for the falsification of its own 2020 elections and violence against protesters.
President Biden calls Trump, invites him to White House
Katrina
President Joe Biden has called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him, AP is reporting.
The President is also planning to address the country on Thursday, according to a White House official.
“President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together,” the official told CNN.
“He also invited President-elect Trump to meet with him in the White House. The staff will coordinate a specific date in the near future.”
President Zelenskyy reacts to Trump, cites Reagan quote on 'peace through strength'
Kurt Bayer
Ukraine was quick to congratulate Donald Trump today, putting on a brave face on an outcome that has been viewed as potentially grim for a country in desperate need of military aid as its conflict with Russia grinds on.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the first leaders to congratulate Trump, praising the “impressive election victory” on X and saying he was optimistic they could work together in obtaining peace.
Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly congratulated Trump today through "mutual friends," according to Russian news outlet Verstka, but flies in the face of the Kremlin's official position that Putin has not congratulated Trump, and does not plan to.
Now, Zelenskyy has posted again on X, citing President Ronald Reagan’s “peace through strength” quote from the Cold War.
“It’s no coincidence that Ronald Reagan is mentioned so often these days—people want confidence, they want freedom, they want a normal life. For us, that means a life free from Russian aggression, with a strong America, a strong Ukraine, and strong allies,” Zelenskyy said.
Oskar Alley
Trump acknowledges Harris' 'strength, professionalism, and tenacity'
Kurt Bayer
Donald Trump's campaign has confirmed he has spoken on the phone with Kamala Harris.
“President Trump acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
NYC's mayor vows to keep fighting for rights of New Yorkers
Kurt Bayer
Embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams says the incoming Trump administration's success is "our success too" as the States' largest city.
Adams is calling for work to continue in creating a safer and more affordable New York.
"We will also continue to promote our city’s values of standing up for women, our LGBTQ+ community, our immigrant brothers and sisters, and the millions of others who call NYC home, as well we [sic] as to ensure New York City continues to get the federal resources we need."
Sir John Key says Trump's win is part of a 'bigger movement'
Kurt Bayer
Sir John Key and economist Brad Olsen have weighed in on what the dawn of the second Trump era will mean for New Zealand’s economy.
Republican Donald Trump has claimed victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in the US presidential election overnight, four years after he left the White House.
He is also tipped to take hold of the Senate and is making gains in the House, giving the Republican Party a strong hold over the American economy.
Key, who was vocal about his support for Trump during the campaign, told Newstalk ZB’s Ryan Bridge that Trump’s win is a part of a “bigger movement”.
Read the full story here.
Democrat blame game begins as Harris accused of picking wrong running mate
Kurt Bayer
Kamala Harris has been accused of picking the wrong running mate as the Democratic blame game over her humiliating election defeat began.
The US Vice-President appeared on course to lose every one of the seven swing states that determined the White House race.
Harris, 60, declined to address the nation on election night, leaving Democratic officials to fill the vacuum.
Read the full article here.
'We’re a trading nation': NZ Govt. looks forward to working with US
Kurt Bayer
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government is looking forward to building a good relationship with the new Trump administration.
“We’re a trading nation. We continue to want to grow our trade with the United States of America and we will look to do so,” she told the Mike Hosking Breakfast show on Newstalk ZB.
“Our exports into the States grew 16% in the last year. The Americans like our wine, they like our red meat, they like coming here as tourists, they like our services, and I think that will continue to be the case.
“We also like American products. Trade is ultimately about the exchange of value that makes sense on both sides. I think it will continue to make sense for our nations to trade with each other."
Trump 'actively taking calls and meetings with donors' - reports
Kurt Bayer
CNN is reporting Trump is actively taking calls and meetings with donors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
It is said he is “laying low” today, meeting with foreign leaders and CEOs.
He is also reportedly taking meetings with donors.
United Nations boss congratulates Trump
Kurt Bayer
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has congratulated Donald Trump on his win.
“I congratulate President-elect Donald J. Trump and I reaffirm my belief that the cooperation between the United States and the United Nations is an essential pillar of international relations,” Guterres said in a statement.
He commended the American people for their “ active participation in the democratic process”.
Harris campaign thanks staff, saying losing is ‘unfathomably painful’
Kurt Bayer
Jen O’Malley Dillon, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign chair, told campaign staff today that Harris told President-elect Donald Trump that she would work with President Joe Biden “to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, unlike what we saw in 2020,” according to an email she sent to campaign staff obtained by the Washington Post.
In the note, O’Malley Dillon also thanked the staff and commended them on their work on the campaign.
“You stared down unprecedented headwinds and obstacles that were largely out of our control,” The Post reported her saying.
“We knew this would be a margin of error race, and it was.”
O’Malley Dillon said Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), her running mate, plans to address the staff on a call after Harris delivers her concession speech at Howard University.
She concluded the note by asking the staff to stay involved.
“I’ll leave you with this: losing is unfathomably painful,” she wrote.
“It is hard. This will take a long time to process. But the work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now.”
Harris calls President-elect Trump to concede
Kurt Bayer
A senior Harris aide says Vice President Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on winning the 2024 presidential election.
Harris discussed the "importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans," the aide reportedly said.
Harris will deliver her concession speech to supporters at 10am NZ time in Washington at Howard University, her alma mater.
Trump’s win ‘a great moment for democracy’, says Nikki Haley
Kurt Bayer
Nikki Haley, who was Donald Trump’s longest-standing challenger in the 2024 Republican primary, has said that the President-elect “defied gravity” with his win.
“He got through two assassination attempts. He got through two impeachments, he got through numerous indictments, and America still elected him because, at the end of the day, they knew what they were getting with Donald Trump. And that’s what they wanted to see,” she told her radio show.
Haley endorsed Trump but was largely absent from the Republican campaign trail.
She called his victory “a great moment for democracy”.
World’s richest man basks in win
Kurt Bayer
Tech billionaire Elon Musk who aggressively campaigned for the Republican candidate Trump is basking in the glory this morning.
Musk, who bought Twitter, now called X, posted on his own social media platform a photo of himself saluting a billowing American flag over a city skyline.
“It is morning in America again,” he wrote.
Trump called the Tesla CEO and the world’s richest person, a “new star” during his victory speech overnight.
Musk reportedly spent more than US$100m to help get Trump re-elected.
Business Insider reported today that he stands to now likely benefit from a lighter regulatory environment.
Chris Hipkins wishes America well
Kurt Bayer
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the result is clear.
He has congratulated Trump on his election as the next President - saying on X he wishes the US well as they embark on the peaceful transfer of power from one democratically-elected leader to another.
Hipkins has previously told The Country a Harris presidency would be "much better" for New Zealand.
'This is quite something, right Piers?'
Kurt Bayer
British broadcaster and former tabloid editor Piers Morgan spoke to an “understandably weary” Trump and congratulated him on “the greatest comeback in political history”.
Morgan posted on X that Trump was “utterly elated” by the landslide win.
“This is quite something, right Piers?”
Stock markets and cryptocurrencies open strongly following Trump’s victory
Kurt Bayer
US markets rose Wednesday (US time) as investors welcomed Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House, Washington Post reports.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained about 3% as trading opened Wednesday morning. The broader S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq indexeach moved up more than 2% while the Russell 2000 index of small-cap stocks was up almost 5%.
Prime Minister of India congrats Trumps
Kurt Bayer
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he has spoken to Trump and congratulated him on a "spectacular victory".
Modi says he is looking forward to stronger ties with the US across many sectors.
Jeff Bezos wishes Trump ‘big congratulations’
Kurt Bayer
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, congratulated President-elect Donald Trump in a post on X.
“Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities,” Bezos wrote.
“Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.”
RFK Jr. says fluoride is on its way out, vaccines won’t be taken away
Kurt Bayer
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who President-elect Donald Trump pledged would have major influence over health policy in his administration, said he would overhaul the federal government’s longstanding public health recommendations.
In Wednesday interviews with NPR and NBC News, Kennedy said he would recommend water districts remove fluoride from the drinking water supply, a decades-long practice experts say improved oral health.
Boris Johnson backs Trump
Kurt Bayer
Former UK Prime Minister and ex-Mayor of London Boris Johnson has joined the chorus of support for the new US President.
Johnson took to X this morning to hail Trump's "amazing victory".
Trump's granddaughter sends her love
Kurt Bayer
Putin ‘sent Trump private congratulations’
Kurt Bayer
Vladimir Putin has privately congratulated Donald Trump on election victory, a Russian opposition website has said, citing Kremlin sources and MPs.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, previously said that Putin had no plans to congratulate Trump, but reporters at Vyorstka said that the Russian leader and senior officials have gone through the Russian foreign ministry to commend him informally.
According to The Times, the unnamed sources said the move was linked to hopes that Trump would slash military support to Ukraine.
Netanyahu one of the first to call Trump
Kurt Bayer
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the first world leaders to speak with US President-elect Donald Trump.
John Key reacts to Trump landslide: ‘He’s a bit of brawler’
Kurt Bayer
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir John Key, who was vocal about his support for Trump during the campaign, told Newstalk’s Ryan Bridge that Trump’s win is part of a “bigger movement”.
He said that Kiwis and New Zealand media could not see or understand the stronghold Trump had on America before the election like he could.
“Truthfully, there is a movement happening around the world," Key said.
“You can feel, you know, all sorts of emotions about that, but you can't deny it.”
He said although there were loud voices disapproving of Trump, there was no denying people identified with him.
“He is a bit of a brawler, a bit of a fighter… this is a guy who gets shot in the head," he said.
“You can't fake this stuff and he gets up in his first reaction is to say ‘Fight, fight, fight'.”
He said he did not want to “sugarcoat” the implications this might have on trade and that they did “concern” him.
“We do have a very good relationship to a certain degree, you know, Donald Trump's been notorious for being a deal-doer… I think they like New Zealand.”
Taiwan president congratulates Trump with plea for continued support
Kurt Bayer
Harris goes radio silent after election defeat, reports claim
Kurt Bayer
Kamala Harris has been radio silent this morning following her stunning election defeat, reports suggest.
The vice president, who has yet to concede to Donald Trump, has not been seen publicly since departing her campaign watch party last night.
After she was swept away in the key swing states, campaign insiders told Fox News Harris is uncontactable this morning and has not provided talking points to surrogates donors or influencers.
One source told the US outlet they received no response even after reaching out.
Meanwhile, see our report from her grim election night party by the Herald's Thomas Coughlan.
Trump the oldest President-elect ever
Katrina
At 78, Donald Trump is set to become the oldest President-elect ever.
His running mate JD Vance will be one of the youngest Vice Presidents at 40.
Current President Joe Biden was 77 when voted in.
Republicans to win the Senate
Katrina
Republicans are projected to win the Senate, Reuters is reporting.
With recent victories in Montana, Ohio and West Virginia, it has been ensured Trump will control at least one chamber of Congress next year.
UK politician calls it a 'dark, dark day'
Katrina
UK Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has expressed his concerns around a looming Trump presidency in a thread on social media site X.
George Bush congratulates Trump
Katrina
Former President George W. Bush congratulated Trump on his victory after refusing to endorse a candidate during the election.
Bush’s daughter Barbara Bush and former running mate Dick Cheney endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Kamala Harris to speak at 10am NZ time
Katrina
CNN is reporting that Kamala Harris will speak from Howard University following her loss to former President Donald Trump at 4pm EST (10am NZT).
She is also expected to call Trump to concede.
Martin Luther King III says 'we're not going back'
Katrina
Martin Luther King III, son of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr, has thanked Kamala Harris for her campaign.
"You made us proud and showed our daughters the potential of their lives," he said.
"We’re not going back. We will keep marching ahead."
Katrina
ARTICLE CONTINUES
Trump also spent several minutes praising Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, who pumped some $US120 million into backing Trump’s campaign. Trump has said he will appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission.
He appeared on the verge of winning after capturing the battleground states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and holding leads in the other four, according to Edison Research.
Harris did not speak to her supporters, who had gathered at her alma mater Howard University. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, briefly addressed the crowd after midnight, saying Harris would not speak publicly.
“We still have votes to count,” he said.
The former president was showing strength across broad swaths of the country, improving on his 2020 performance everywhere from rural areas to urban centres.
Republicans also won a US Senate majority after flipping Democratic seats in West Virginia and Ohio.
Neither party appeared to have an edge in the fight for control of the House of Representatives where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
Trump went into election day with a 50-50 chance of reclaiming the White House, a remarkable turnaround from January 6, 2021, when many pundits pronounced his political career over.
That day, a mob of his supporters stormed Congress in a violent attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Trump picked up more support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison.
Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago.
About 31% of voters said the economy was their top issue, and they voted for Trump by a 79% to 20% margin, according to exit polls.
Some 45% of voters across the country said their family’s financial situation was worse off today than four years ago, and they favoured Trump 80% to 17% for Harris.
At Howard University, where a large watch party was being held for Harris, supporters were leaving in droves, anticipating that the vice president would not address the crowd on Tuesday night.
Cedric Richmond, a co-chair of the Harris campaign, briefly addressed the crowd and said Harris would not speak.
“We still have votes to count,” he said.
“We still have states that haven’t been called yet.”
Trump was earning a bigger share of the vote than he did four years ago in almost every corner of the country, from suburban Georgia to rural Pennsylvania.
By 11pm US eastern time, officials had almost completed their count of ballots in more than 1200 counties - about a third of the country - and Trump’s share was up about 2.0 percentage points compared to 2020, reflecting a broad if not especially deep shift in Americans’ support for the president they ousted four years ago.
He had improved his numbers in suburban counties, rural regions and even some large cities that are historically bastions of Democratic support.
In Florida, a ballot measure that would have guaranteed abortion rights failed to reach the 60 per cent threshold needed to pass, according to Edison, leaving a six-week ban in place.
Nine other states have abortion-related measures on the ballot.
Trump, whose supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, after he claimed the 2020 election was rigged, voted earlier near his home in Palm Beach, Florida.
He was watching the results at his Mar-a-Lago club - reportedly joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk - before speaking to supporters at a nearby convention centre, according to sources familiar with the planning.
Tuesday’s vote capped a dizzying race churned by unprecedented events, including two assassination attempts against Trump, President Joe Biden’s surprise withdrawal and Harris’ rapid rise.
Harris, 60, the first female vice president, would become the first woman, Black woman and South Asian American to win the presidency.
Trump, 78, the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted, would also become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than a century.