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US Election 2016: Trump triumphs over Clinton and promises to “deal fairly” with all countries

Americans have overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump to become the 45th President of the United States of America.

CNN described Mr Trump’s election as “a historic victory for outsiders that represents a stunning repudiation of Washington’s political establishment.”

US president-elect Donald Trump
US president-elect Donald Trump

Addressing the victory rally in New York, the US president-elect congratulated his opponent Hillary Clinton on her “very, very hard-fought campaign”.

He added. “I just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us on our victory.

“Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.”

Mr Trump promised to work to “bind the wounds of division” and bring Americans together. “It is time for us to come together as one united people. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans and this is so important to me.”

He also hinted that his foreign policy would be based on defending American interests and maintaining good relations with all countries. “While we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone – with everyone. We will seek common ground, not hostility,” Mr Trump said.

And he had a special message for his opponents: “To those who have chosen not to support me in the past — of which there were a few people — I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country,” Mr Trump said.

He thanked his staff and advisers for working hard to secure his outsider victory.

“I’ve said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement made up of millions of hardworking men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their family,” he said. “While the campaign is over, our work on this movement has really just started.”