Trump claims victory over Harris in US presidential election

FLORIDA

Donald Trump claimed victory and pledged to "heal" the country Wednesday as results put him on the verge of beating Kamala Harris in a stunning White House comeback.

Surrounded by cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters in Florida, the former president vowed to "help the country heal" in what he described as a "political victory that our country has never seen before."

Trump's exuberant speech came as the race between him and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris had been neck-and-neck. Networks had only called a few key swing states, like Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina, in Trump's favor, but the 78-year-old Republican still felt confident enough to declare himself the winner.

Gloom descended on Harris' camp as the results rolled in. "You won't hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow," Cedric Richmond, Harris' campaign co-chair, told disappointed supporters in Washington.

In another blow to Democrats, Trump's Republican Party also seized control of the Senate, overturning the narrow majority held by the Democrats.

In contrast, the celebrations intensified at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and the nearby watch party. Tech tycoon Elon Musk, a Trump supporter, posted a picture of himself with the Republican, declaring "Game, set and match."

The election has been marred by tension and concerns over potential violence, with dozens of bomb threats made against polling stations in Georgia and Pennsylvania. The FBI has stated that the threats, which were all hoaxes, appeared to originate in Russia, which has been accused of attempting to meddle in the election.

Harris, who was aiming to become the second Black and first person of South Asian descent to be president, had positioned herself as a defender of democracy and an opponent of Trump-backed abortion bans. However, her campaign appears to have fallen short, with Trump's Republican Party also seizing control of the Senate, flipping two seats to overturn a narrow Democratic majority.

As the world watches the unfolding events, the consequences of this election will reverberate far beyond the borders of the United States, with implications for global geopolitics, international relations, and the ongoing challenges facing the nation. Trump has indicated he will cut aid to Kiev's battle against the Russian invasion.