As it happened: Donald Trump elected President of the United States in shock defeat of Hillary Clinton
Former outsider sweeps to decisive victory after winning key battleground states
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States in the biggest shock in the country's electoral history. Here are the things you need to know:
- European leaders warn of 'new era of uncertainty'
- Hillary Clinton gives concession speech: 'For all the girls and women watching this, don't give up'
- Stunned world reacts to Mr Trump's victory
- Victor pledges to be 'President for all Americans' in speech
- Billionaire reality star's journey to the White House
- What happens next
- Barack Obama invites successor to White House
- How Mr Trump won the election
- ...and how victory slipped through Ms Clinton's fingers
- Theresa May congratulates the President-elect
- Jeremy Corbyn calls Mr Trump's policies 'wrong'
- Nigel Farage will be first UK politician to meet victor
- Former KKK leader claims support sealed victory
- Financial markets drop as analysts fear 'Brexit all over again'
- How British politicians reacted to the election of Donald Trump
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Donald Trump has been named the shock victor of the US presidential election, pledging to be a "President for all Americans".
In a victory speech in New York, the Republican candidate, vowed to unite the country following a divisive campaign littered with controversies.
“Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division…I say it is time for us to come together as one united people,” he said, as supporters chanted “USA! USA! USA!”.
Amid widespread concern over international tensions following Mr Trump’s comments on countries including China and Russia, he insisted he expected “great relationships” with foreign nations.
“America will no longer settle for anything less than best, - we must reclaim our country’s destiny,” he added. “I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interests first, we will always deal fairly with everyone – all people and all other nations.
“We will seek common ground, not hostility. Partnership, not conflict.”
Hillary Clinton phoned Mr Trump in the early hours of Wednesday morning to concede defeat but made no immediate public comment.
As her loss looked ever more certain, she tweeted: "Whatever happens tonight, thank you for everything."
Results update: 46 out of 50 states have declared, with Donald Trump passing the required benchmark of 270 Electoral College votes needed to win.
Only four states are left: Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio or projected for the President-elect, with Michigan so far undecided between him and Hillary Clinton. The result of the popular vote, meaning the number of ballots cast in total for each candidate, has not been confirmed.
It is possible for a President to be elected with fewer votes than his or her opponent, as George W Bush did in 2000.
It's just coming up to 7am in New York (kudos to everyone who's been following us through the night) and the American media is starting to offer its own reaction to Donald Trump's election.
An op-ed in the New Yorker isn't pulling any punches, with editor David Remnich writing:
The election of Donald Trump to the Presidency is nothing less than a tragedy for the American republic, a tragedy for the Constitution, and a triumph for the forces, at home and abroad, of nativism, authoritarianism, misogyny, and racism.
Trump’s shocking victory, his ascension to the Presidency, is a sickening event in the history of the United States and liberal democracy. On January 20, 2017, we will bid farewell to the first African-American President—a man of integrity, dignity, and generous spirit—and witness the inauguration of a con who did little to spurn endorsement by forces of xenophobia and white supremacy.
It is impossible to react to this moment with anything less than revulsion and profound anxiety.
An alternative take from the Buchan Observer in Scotland, which is running its report on Donald Trump's victory under the headline: 'Aberdeenshire business owner wins Presidential election'
Barack Obama has called Donald Trump to congratulate him, the White House says, and invited his successor to the White House on Thursday.
"The President also called Secretary Clinton and expressed admiration for the strong campaign she waged throughout the country," a spokesperson said.
"The President will make a statement on Wednesday at the White House to discuss the election results and what steps we can take as a country to come together after this hard-fought election season.
"The President invited the President-elect to meet with him at the White House on Thursday, to update him on the transition planning his team has been working on for nearly a year.
"Ensuring a smooth transition of power is one of the top priorities."
