Trump promises to bring 'golden age', heal nation

REPUBLICANS TAKE SENATE MAJORITY AND EYE UNIFIED POWER WITH DONALD TRUMP

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WASHINGTON: Donald Trump on Wednesday promised to bring a "golden age" for America, as he appeared poised to win the presidential election with a mandate he called "unprecedented and powerful".

According to races called by the Associated Press up to 2 pm (IST), 267 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump and 224 to Democratic Party's Kamala Harris. Trump is just three votes short of a victory.

Trump's victory was sealed after the networks declared that he has won the battleground state of Pennsylvania which had 19 electoral college votes. Fox News was the first major American media outlet to declare Trump the winner, which was soon followed by many other media outlets.

"This will truly be a golden age for America. This is a magnificent victory that will also help us to make America great again," Trump, 78, told his supporters in the wee hours of Wednesday at Palm Beach Convention Centre in Palm Beach, Florida.

He was accompanied by most members of his family, including his wife Melania Trump.

Vice President-elect J D Vance and his Indian American wife Usha Vance were also present on the podium. Trump praised both his running mate and Usha for their support throughout the process.

"This was a movement like nobody's ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There's never been anything like this in this country and maybe beyond, and now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal," said the president-elect. The inauguration is scheduled for January 20.

Donald Trump has promised sweeping action in a second administration

Immigration