Trump declares victory after winning crucial battleground states

Donald Trump is likely on the verge of securing a second term in the White House having swept three of the key battleground states hours after the polls closed.

Seven crucial swing states could have given Kamala Harris various routes to secure 270 Electoral College votes but the vice president lost North Carolina and Georgia by 1am ET, severely narrowing any path to victory. Pennsylvania followed just after 2am ET.

Counting is still underway in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.

At the Harris watch party at Howard University in Washington, DC, campaign senior adviser Cedric Richmond said the vice president would not speak tonight but would address supporters tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in Palm Beach, there are scenes of jubilation from Trump supporters as they awaited remarks from the Republican nominee. Just before 2.30am Trump took to the stage joined by his family and vice presidential nominee JD Vance.

He hailed “the greatest political movement of all time” and said they would “help our country heal” and would “fix everything about our country”.

Trump said his victory heralded a “golden age for America” also claiming to have won the popular vote.

Key Points

• Trump vs Harris: Live election 2024 results map

• Results in the battleground states

• Watch LIVE: Trump due to speak at Florida convention center watch party

On the ground in Florida as Trump claims victory

08:35 , Andrew Feinberg

The scene outside the West Palm Beach, Florida convention center looked something like a cross between a crime scene and a carnival.

On a normally busy crossroads, not far from the bridge between the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach — the location of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence — and the more modest community of West Palm Beach, a mass of police cars, dump trucks and other heavy vehicles blocked the way to the convention hall, which was ringed by the kind of riot-proof fencing that became ubiquitous in Washington just four years ago after Trump fomented a riot after losing the last presidential election.

It was just after 1:00 am, and it was starting to look as if the most famous felon in America was on a glide path back to the White House. And while hundreds of his well-heeled supporters were packed inside the hall awaiting him, an impromptu vigil had sprung up along the road, with more supporters lining the grassy median, faces pressed against the fence, in hopes of catching a glimpse of his motorcade.

The crowd of roughly 100 people were so busy watching for the ex-president turned president-elect that they missed a bonafide MAGA celebrity as he walked towards the convention center.

It was Nigel Farage, the Member of Parliament for Clacton and the leader of the Reform UK Party. Thousands of miles from Westminster, Farage was in Florida to celebrate the return of his friend to the highest office in America.

Though he passed by the crowd of Trump supporters unnoticed, The Independent spotted him and quickly approached him to ask for his thoughts on the night’s events.

“I’m very happy — you guys got it all wrong again,” he said.

Farage wasn’t the only person to express some scorn for the press.

Although most of the reporters who’d come to Florida for election night were safely inside the convention center, the Trump campaign failed to credential foreign press outlets from a whole host of countries. As those television reporters stood on the sidewalk to broadcast, a man in a car that was stopped at the intersection began taunting them, asking if they were “crying.”

At just past 1:30am, Fox News called Pennsylvania for Trump, all but foreclosing Vice President Kamala Harris’s path to the White House.

Almost immediately, it began to rain.

World leaders congratulate Trump on victory

08:30 , Oliver O’Connell

World leaders have begun to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the 2024 US presidential election — even though the race is yet to be formally called for him.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called it “history’s greatest comeback”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it an “impressive election victory”.

In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the victory “historic” and said he looked forward to working with him in years ahead.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to work together “as we did for four years”.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his “heartiest congratulations” to his friend.

Jon Stewart criticises pollsters after Trump declares victory

08:25 , Oliver O’Connell

US Senate: State of the 2024 race

08:18 , Oliver O’Connell

Joe Biden’s granddaughter Naomi reveals she’s pregnant on Election Day

08:15 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden is set to become a great-grandfather for the first time, after his granddaughter Naomi revealed her pregnancy on election night.

On Tuesday, the 30-year-old political scion made the big reveal by posting a selfie on her Instagram story, shortly after the polls closed in Washington DC.

James Liddell has the story.

‘We voted’: Joe Biden’s granddaughter Naomi reveals she’s pregnant on Election Day

08:13 , Oliver O’Connell

I was at Ted Cruz’s election party in Texas. It was a pre-game for a Trump victory

08:00 , Eric Garcia

Ted Cruz’s re-election built on the inroads that Trump made, which he knew would confound Democrats, who have long believed that Latinos would be put off by Republicans’ hawkish rhetoric on immigration.

In Texas, Ted Cruz’s victory party served as a pre-game for a Trump victory

Watch: Trump declares US election victory as results from final states awaited

07:54 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump declares US election victory as he hails ‘golden age’ for America

Harris wins Minnesota

07:48 , Oliver O’Connell

The Associated Press has called the state of Minnesota for Kamala Harris.

07:46 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President-elect JD Vance

Watch LIVE: Trump addresses supporters as networks begin to call election

07:25 , Oliver O’Connell

Eric Trump posts photo of father looking over speech

07:24 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump is set to speak at his campaign watch party in West Palm Beach. His son Eric posted a picture of him looking over his speech.

Trump’s niece reacts to uncle’s likely win

07:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Florida’s abortion rights amendment fails despite getting 57% of the vote

07:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Abortion access will not be a constitutional right in the state of Florida.

The measure proposed enshrining the right to abortion care in the state, which would overturn state-level bans on abortion at 14- and six-weeks of pregnancy, and land a major victory for abortion rights advocates two years after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade.

The measure is not projected to clear the 60 percent threshold required to amend the state’s constitution. Nearly 6 million people voted to support the measure, with 4.4 million voting against it, according to preliminary results.

Alex Woodward reports.

Florida’s abortion rights amendment fails, keeping six-week ban in place

MSNBC and CNN call Pennsylvania for Trump

07:08 , Oliver O’Connell

NBC News and CNN have joined Fox News in calling the state of Pennsylvania for Donald Trump.

The Associated Press has not yet named a winner of the state.

UK MP Nigel Farage ‘very happy’ press ‘got it wrong’ as he attends Trump watch party

07:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Nigel Farage ‘very happy’ as he attends Trump watch party

Fox News projects Trump wins 2024 election

06:56 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News has projected that Donald Trump has won the election. The Associated Press has yet to declare a winner.

The network has put Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as wins for the Republican nominee.

Watch the moment the network projected Trump has won Pennsylvania:

Trump supporters react as former president projected to win Pennsylvania

Trump wins Maine’s second congressional district

06:52 , Oliver O’Connell

The Associated Press has called the 2nd Congressional District in Maine and one electoral vote for Donald Trump.

Harris backers dejected as they leave watch party after disappointing night

06:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris’s pathway to the White House looked increasingly unlikely by the end of Election Day, as early voting totals across the US on Tuesday night showed favorable early signs and wins for Donald Trump.

At the Democrat’s watch party at Howard University in Washington, campaign officials told the dwindling crowd late Tuesday that Harris would not appear until tomorrow.

Graeme Massie reports.

Can Kamala Harris still win? Pessimism mounts inside Harris HQ

Historic flip for traditionally Democratic county in Texas

06:42 , Oliver O’Connell

Per the Cook Political Report:

One of the longest county voting streaks finally met its match tonight. Starr County, Texas — which was Democratic in every presidential election since 1896 — flips to Donald Trump.

Starr County sits on the border with Mexico.

Top Harris surrogate Mark Cuban congratulates Trump

06:40 , Oliver O’Connell

The election is yet to be called but billionaire businessman Mark Cuban, a top surrogate for Kamala Harris, has congratulated Donald Trump — and Elon Musk.

Watch LIVE: Trump due to speak at Florida convention centre watch party

06:33 , Oliver O’Connell

Full story: Republicans see off fierce challenges and flip two seats to take control of the Senate

06:23 , Oliver O’Connell

Republicans will control the Senate in January, following a disappointing night for Democrats that the party had been fearing for months.

The tally as it stands is 51 seats for the Republicans and 42 seats for the Democrats, with seven races left to be called, the Associated Press reports.

John Bowden and Rhian Lubin report.

Republicans see off fierce challenge and flip two seats to take control of the Senate

Harris wins New Hampshire

06:18 , Oliver O’Connell

The Associated Press has called the state of New Hampshire for Kamala Harris.

Fox News anchor hails Trump as ‘biggest political phoenix from the ashes’

06:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Fox News anchor Brett Baier hailed Donald Trump as “the biggest political phoenix from the ashes” in the history of US politics, after the former president appeared to take a strong early lead on Election Night.

Despite a large number of votes in crucial swing states still being left to count, Baier made the bold claim live on Tuesday night, noting that Trump’s path to the White House was becoming “clearer.”

Mike Bedigan reports.

Fox News anchor hails as Trump ‘biggest political phoenix’ in US political history

06:09 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump wins Nebraksa’s 1st congressional district

06:07 , Oliver O’Connell

The Associated Press has called the 1st Congressional District in Nebraska and one electoral vote for Donald Trump

Trump wins Georgia

06:03 , Oliver O’Connell

The Associated Press has called the state of Georgia for Donald Trump.

1am ET — Polls close in Alaska

06:00 , Joe Sommerlad

And finally, the polls are closed in Alaska* and across all of America.

*some of Alaska’s results came through at 12am ET.

Harris adviser tells Independent he is ‘confident’ campaign will be in ‘better place’ tomorrow

05:55 , John Bowden

Harris-Walz campaign senior adviser Cedric Richmond tells The Independent that he is feeling “very confident” that the campaign will be in a better place tomorrow: “We left it all on the field.”

Harris senior adviser addresses crowd

05:46 , Oliver O’Connell

Senior adviser to the Kamala Harris campaign former US Rep Cedric Richmond just addressed the crowd at Howard University saying that Vice President Harris will not be addressing supporters tonight.

They will wait until all the votes are counted and Harris will address her supporters tomorrow.

“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice is spoken. So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow. She will be back here tomorrow.”

Watch: Trump fans cheer motorcade in West Palm Beach

05:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Who is with Trump at Mar-a-Lago tonight?

05:36 , Oliver O’Connell

Joining former president Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago tonight are Elon Musk, Robert F Kennedy Jr, Caitlin Jenner, Eduardo Bolsonaro, Nigel Farage, Dana White, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Reps Byron Donalds and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Meredith McGraw of Politico reports that Tucker Carlson did a three-hour show interviewing many of those present in the library bar underneath the portrait of Trump in tennis whites.

Despair and stubborn hopefulness at Harris watch party

05:35 , John Bowden

The mood continues to flip between despair and a stubborn hopefulness at Kamala Harris’s watch party at Howard University, where thousands remained after midnight even when it was clear that Harris herself would not be speaking about the race Tuesday evening.

As the wind picked up and people began shivering, the streams of people heading for the exits continued. Loud dance music continued to blare over the speakers, but nobody was dancing. A large crowd remains in the main yard outside Frederick Douglass Hall, but it was a clear letdown for many who had looked forward to Harris making a speech as president-elect in front of the historic backdrop of her alma mater.

“It means a lot [for her to have her party at Howard],” current Howard student Baiyee-Ndang Agbor-Baiyee told The Independent, while expressing optimism that Harris would pull things through even given some “rocky” election returns. “Howard is a place that breeds excellence…and when you can show the next generation that excellence is in your face, it’s not something that’s distant…it’s achievable. It means a lot.”

Elon Musk claims early victory for Trump with 6 of 7 swing states still uncalled

05:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Elon Musk has proclaimed victory for Donald Trump as he took an early lead over Kamala Harris.

“Game, set, and match,” the Tesla and SpaceX boss declared on his social network X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday evening.

“America is a nation of builders. Soon, you will be free to build,” he followed up.

Io Dodds reports from San Francisco.

Elon Musk claims early victory for Trump with 6 of 7 swing states still uncalled

05:22 , Oliver O’Connell

Full story: Ted Cruz evades Democratic efforts to unseat him

05:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Despite millions of dollars and best-laid plans, Texas once again eluded Democrats as Senator Ted Cruz pulled off a photo finish to win a third term.

The controversial Republican appeared to have underperformed Donald Trump, who handily won the Lone Star State. In the final weeks of the campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris had held a rally in Houston with Beyoncé and Democratic challenger Colin Allred in hopes of boosting the Senate hopeful – but to no avail.

Eric Garcia reports from the Cruz watch party in Houston, Texas.

Ted Cruz evades Democratic efforts to unseat him again in Texas

Harris wins Nebraska 2nd congressional district

05:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris wins the 2nd Congressional District in Nebraska and one electoral vote, according to the Associated Press

Republicans take Senate

05:09 , Oliver O’Connell

The Associated Press has officially called the US Senate for the Republican Party.

Battleground state tracker — North Carolina goes to Trump

04:35 , Oliver O’Connell

Update: Where the 2024 Senate race stand now

02:18 , Oliver O’Connell