Hilary Clinton Called Me and Conceded Defeat - U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump

Following his landmark victory, United States President-elect, Donald Trump has said he received a call from Hillary Clinton.

United States President-elect Donald Trump

 

United States President-elect, Donald Trump has said he received a phone call from Hillary Clinton, Wednesday morning. He said Hillary congratulated him for a hard fought victory and wished him well.

 

As at 11:00 am East African Time, Trump had surpassed the half-way mark of the electoral college votes (270) that were needed to make him become America’s 45th president; he had 276 electoral votes compared to Hillary Clinton’s 218.

 

Speaking in New York Hilton, Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that Hillary Clinton put up a spirited competition against him in the race to White House

 

“The political surface is nasty and tough, but I thank my family (for standing by me throughout the period of campaigns),” Trump said.

 

Trump has vowed to unify the United States populace, comprising different races, religion and people of separate economic classes. He won the US presidential election early this morning in a stunning victory that sent shockwaves around the world.

 

The Republican took the key swing states of Florida, North Carolina and Ohio early this morning, as he marched towards the White House.

 

Mr Trump pledged that he would be"president for all Americans" in his New York victory speech. He said he was "reaching out" to the people who had not supported him to "unify the country".

 

"Now it's time to bind the wounds of division. I say to Democrats and Republicans it is time come together as one united people," he said.

 

"I pledge to be president for all Americans," he said, adding: "The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer."

 

He said it was not a campaign but a movement that had won him the White House, comprised of "all people of different backgrounds and beliefs".

 

He said victory had been "tough". "This political stuff is nasty and it's tough," he said, while thanking his family.

 

It was an extraordinary election night. Mr Trump won some early east coast states and did not look back. When he secured the key swing state of Florida, a clear path to the presidency was laid out. He went on to win Ohio and South Carolina.

 

In an extraordinary development, Mrs Clinton did not initially concede the election - but then later called Mr Trump to congratulate him on his victory. 

 

Mr Trump offered generous words for his vanquished opponent, saying she had worked hard for many years and was owed a"deep debt of gratitude".

 

The crowd was respectful at the mention of Mrs Clinton.

 

In a conciliatory speech Mr Trump added:  "We will get along with all other nations willing to get along with us. We will deal fairly with everyone. We will seek common ground, partnership not conflict.

"America will no longer settle for anything less than the best. We must reclaim our destiny."