Political novice and former reality TV star Donald Trump has defeated Hillary Clinton to take the US presidency, stunning America and the world in an explosive upset fuelled by a wave of grassroots anger. The Republican mogul immediately pledged to unite a nation deeply divided after the bitterest election in recent memory, vowing to be a "president for all Americans."
Donald Trump wins White House in stunning upset The long-standing global political order, which hinges on Washington's leadership, was cast into doubt by the election of a man who has questioned core US alliances. Around the world, as Trump's victory settled in as cold reality, the political earthquake was greeted with warnings that America had handed power to "an unstable bigot, sexual predator and compulsive liar," in the words of Britain's The Guardian.
But the leaders of America's closest hemispheric partners, Canada and Mexico, quickly made clear their willingness to work with the new president, offering a message of continuity and stability with their giant neighbour. And US investors appeared to be shaking off the shock that initially sent global markets plunging.
Trump called for national reconciliation after Clinton conceded defeat in a result that virtually no poll had dreamed of predicting, her hopes of becoming the first female US president brutally dashed. "Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division," Trump told a crowd of jubilant supporters early Wednesday in New York, pledging to work with Democrats in office.
Trump praised Clinton - in the last presidential debate, he called her a "nasty woman" - for her hard work and years of public service. His campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said the pair had a brief but "very gracious, very warm conversation" by phone. So great was the shock of defeat that the normally robust Clinton did not come out to her supporters' poll-watching party to concede defeat, instead sending her campaign chairman.
As day broke under rainy skies in Washington, the White House said President Barack Obama called Trump to congratulate him. The president, who will host his successor for transition talks on Thursday, was to address the country and the nation at 1715 GMT.
During a bitter two-year campaign that tugged at America's democratic fabric, the 70-year-old tycoon pledged to deport illegal immigrants, ban Muslims from the country and tear up free trade deals. There was no disguising the concern of Washington's partners that Trump's victory might destroy the Western alliance they still regard as a touchstone for stability and the rule of law The election result was also a brutal humiliation for the White House incumbent, who for eight years has repeated the credo that there is no black or white America, only the United States of America.
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