DONALD TRUMP ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE US AND INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE
Sky News
Sky NewsNovember 9, 2016
Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States - and Barack Obama has invited him to The White House to discuss his transition to power.
The anti-establishment outsider stunned the world and upset the status quo by defeating Hillary Clinton in one of the most divisive elections in modern US history.
Sitting President Mr Obama called his successor to congratulate him on his victory and the pair will meet on Thursday.
He also called Mrs Clinton to express his "admiration for the strong campaign she waged throughout the country".
A triumphant Mr Trump walked on stage earlier to deliver his victory speech in New York to chants of "USA, USA!"
Victories in swing states such as Florida and North Carolina took him beyond the 270 Electoral College votes required to take The White House.
The celebrity businessman pledged to bind the wounds of division and called on Republicans and Democrats to come together after a "nasty" presidential race.
Mr Trump paid tribute to his rival for a hard-fought campaign and promised to be "president to all Americans".
"The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer," he said. "I promise you I will not let you down."
Mr Trump will not be inaugurated until 20 January - but thoughts are already turning to how his presidency will unfold after his at-times inflammatory rhetoric, as well as promises to build a wall at the Mexican border and to ban Muslims from entering the US.
There were anti-Trump protests on both US coasts from Pennsylvania to California, Oregon and Washington as hundreds of people marched through streets, with an effigy of the President-elect reportedly set on fire in Oakland.
Sky's Hannah Thomas-Peter, who was at the Trump rally, said his most important task will be to unify "those who turned away from one another as he defied conventional wisdom and played to fear and suspicion".
"However Trump chooses to lead, the American public have made a decision that will forever change their country. This nation has taken a leap into the unknown," she added.
In a message to the world, Mr Trump said "while we will always put American interests first... we will get along with all other nations... willing to get along with us."
After declaring his love for America, the reality TV star left the stage to the song, You Can't Always Get What You Want - despite repeated requests from the Rolling Stones not to use their music.
Shortly afterwards, Mick Jagger tweeted: "Just was watching the news... maybe they'll ask me to sing 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' at the inauguration, ha!"
Mrs Clinton's supporters were left stony-faced and in tears at what was supposed to be her victory rally, a short distance away in New York, before being sent home by her campaign manager.
While waiting for the results, supporters at the Trump rally shouted, "lock her up, lock her up".
Early exit polls had provided the Democrats with optimism, but shortly after 2am UK time the momentum began to shift as it emerged Mr Trump was edging ahead in a number of key states.
The first swing state to be called for Mr Trump was Ohio at around 3.30am, before others followed and Pennsylvania clinched it for the billionaire Republican just after 8am.
Exit polls also showed he triumphed by winning the backing of white, working class voters, particularly non-college-educated men, trumping Mrs Clinton's coalition of mainly women, minorities and young people.
However, Mr Trump increased the Republican share of Hispanic voters - 29% versus Mitt Romney's 27%.
Mrs Clinton. who is expected to address the nation at 3.30pm, looks set to win the popular vote across the country - but it is Electoral College votes that count.
World markets responded as the US map turned Republican red, with falls reported across Asia and the Mexican peso dropping to a record low against the dollar, while the FTSE 100 saw £37bn wiped off the value of top UK-listed companies.
Canada's main immigration website crashed and New Zealand reported an increase in traffic to its website for residency visas.
Cuba announced five days of pre-scheduled military exercises to prepare for what it called potential "enemy actions" following the election of Mr Trump.