Although the media has not yet named him the winner, Trump celebrated his expected victory with his family and allies.
As former United States President Donald Trump inched closer to 270 Electoral College votes in the wee hours of Wednesday, he took the stage at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to claim a quick victory.
In a nod to the attempt on his life in July, Trump suggested his presidency was divinely ordained.
“Many people have told me that God spared my life for a good reason. And that reason was to save our country and make America great again,” he told the audience on his election night.
“And now we will complete this mission together.”
No major news organization had Trump named the winner of the presidential election when he took the stage. But he was within striking distance of victory: most media outlets put him just a handful of Electoral College votes away.
The speech was relatively low-key for a Trump appearance, and it began with Trump celebrating the Senate’s shift to Republican control.
He also prematurely convened the House of Representatives for the Republicans, although this has not yet been confirmed by the coast-to-coast vote: all 435 House seats were voted on Tuesday.
Trump then called his expected victory “a victory like no other.”
“It was something special. And we will reimburse you. We’re going to do the best job we can,” he told voters. “This day will forever be remembered as the day the American people took back control of their country. »
The Republican leader has long claimed that the United States has been overrun by a “migrant invasion” and ruled by a “deep state” of secret officials.
“America has given us a powerful and unprecedented mandate,” he added.
During his speech at Mar-a-Lago, Trump teased prominent members of his administration.
Former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, who threw his support behind Trump in August, would “make America great again,” Trump said, offering a variation of his “Make American Great Again” slogan.
“He wants to do certain things, and we’re going to let him do them,” Trump added.
Trump also praised billionaire and Tesla owner Elon Musk, calling him a “super genius” after lengthy anecdotes about his admiration for SpaceX rockets and Starlink satellite technology.
“We must protect our geniuses. We don’t have many,” Trump said.
Several of Trump’s closest allies were invited to share a few words, including his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
“I think we have just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America,” Vance said to shouts from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White took a moment on the microphone to reiterate her claims that Trump was the victim of political persecution, a prevalent theme in his campaign.
Last year, Trump became the first US president to face criminal charges, when four indictments were issued against him.
Two of those indictments related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to current Democratic President Joe Biden.
“This is what happens when the machine comes after you. What you’ve seen over the past few years, this is what it looks like. I couldn’t stop it. He continues to move forward. He doesn’t give up. He’s the most resilient, hard-working man I’ve ever met in my life,” White said.
“It’s karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this.