The Prime Ministers of Greece and Australia have sent their congratulations to Donald Trump today, after he was elected the 47th president of the United States in a stunning political resurrection.
Trump becomes the first convicted criminal to win the White House. At 78, he is also the oldest person ever elected to the office.
Trump defeated Kamala Harris, a Democrat who had been seeking to make history herself as the first woman, first Black woman and first south Asian American to become president in the US’ 248-year history.
As votes were counted overnight, Trump won the swing states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin to get him across the line. He’s also won Michigan, toppling the blue wall. Projections show him comfortably clearing the 270 electoral vote threshold required to win the White House.
Addressing the public after the voting count was announced, Trump said, “This is a movement like nobody’s ever seen before.”
“This is, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country and now it’s going to reach a new level of importance, because we’re going to help our country heal,” he said.
“We’re going to fix our borders. We’re going to fix everything about our country… I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve, this will truly be the golden age of America.”
World leaders have also reacted to the news. Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Trump on X.
“Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your election victory. Greece looks forward to further deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries and working together on important regional and global issues,” Mitsotakis wrote.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed these sentiments.
“Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future,” Albanese wrote on X.
Harris called Trump to concede defeat on Wednesday before delivering remarks at Howard University in Washington, DC at 8am (AEDT).
