'Now it's time to bind the wounds of division, come together as one people'

Donald Trump: 'Now it's time to bind the wounds of division, come together as one people'





Nick Allen

9 NOVEMBER 2016 • 8:24 AM




Bedlam broke out as Donald Trump's jubilant supporters realised that he had made history and become the 45th President of the United States.

Several hundred specially invited guests had gathered for a victory party in the ballroom at a Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Mr Trump appeared on a balcony with his family, including son Barron, 10, before descending a staircase and taking the stage where he delivered his speech.

Read the full victory speech here.

He said: "Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business."

"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.

"I pledge to be president for all Americans."



Speaking from a teleprompter, Mr Trump said: "The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer."

Mr Trump said Hillary Clinton had called him to concede. He 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."

Mr Trump spoke in a noticeably quiet voice. He stood in front of a bank of 20 US flags, and other state flags. To his right was a Make America Great Again hat in a glass case.

On his left his wife Melania and children stood at the side of the stage with Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani and other members of his campaign.

The crowd, who had waited through the night, raised their energy for a few last cries of "Trump, Trump".

One shouted: "Eight years".

Mr Trump said he would not let them down and the work of his "movement" was only just beginning. He ended by saying "I love this country!"

He left the stage to the Rolling Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want.

It was a far cry from the usual Trump rally as the crowd was mostly dressed in suits and evening dresses, topped off with red Make America Great Again red hats.

In this Instagram picture posted by Donald Trump Junior, US presidential candidate Donald Trump watches as the votes are counted CREDIT: DONALD TRUMP JR/INSTAGRAM

They punched the air as the results of each state came in. "This is history," one shouted. Others chanted "Drain the swamp" and "USA, USA."

Early in the evening one Trump adviser said it would take a "miracle" to win. But confidence in the Trump "war room" on the fifth floor at nearby Trump Tower grew unexpectedly as the flow of results from Florida started to arrive.

A tense-looking Omarosa, the most famous contestant to emerge from The Apprentice, came out and told The Telegraph: "I had to get out of the war room before I lost my mind.

"I think we're seeing history being made. I'm so incredibly proud of him. We shot The Apprentice in that room. Now Donald Trump is about to be leader of the free world."

Kellyanne Conway, Mr Trump's campaign manager, emerged to say that there was a "buzz" going on.

"He's been able to energise the forgotten men and women and take the Republican Party away from being the party of the elite and become the partying the working man and woman," she said.

"I've seen in people as we go around the country an essential goodness but they are frustrated. All they want is a fair opportunity."

Senator Jeff Sessions, one of Mr Trump's highest profile backers, said the billionaire had always believed he could win.

"Every time they count him out he's still standing," he said. "He has a message that has resonated with working people, and he has the courage and the drive to get something done."

A massive roar went up as Ohio was called and the guests whooped and hollered.

When North Carolina was called supporters began to truly believe their candidate could win.

Benghazi survivor, US Marine John Tiegen, who was in the crowd, said: "There's so many closet Trump voters out there it's annihilated her.

"I dont think she's a leader at all. Trump could actually have pushed the Benghazi issue out there more than he did.

"I think he'll be a great leader for our military and he'll bring cohesiveness."

Scottie Nell Hughes, a high profile Trump supporter, said there was a "hidden vote" and it was the Reagan Democrats, blue collar workers who rejected Mrs Clinton.

Rudi Giuliani, the former New York Mayor, was jubilant. He said Florida was the key state.

Tipped for Attorney General he refused to comment on whether he would try to prosecute Mrs Clinton over her emails.

But, with a smile, he said: "Maybe the Clinton chapter is over now."


Source