US election result: Clinton says Trump must have chance to lead
Appearing in public for the first time since conceding defeat, the Democrat said she hoped Mr Trump would be a successful president for all Americans.
“We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought,” Mrs Clinton said.
Donald Trump will become the 45th US president after an astounding victory.
He will hold his first transition meeting with outgoing President Barack Obama at the
Mr Obama, who congratulated his successor in a phone call in the early hours of the morning, said it was “no secret” that he and Mr Trump had pretty significant differences.
“Ultimately we’re all on the same team,” he said, and people had to remember that “we are Americans first, patriots first, we all want what’s best for this country”.
Mr Obama was heartened by what he heard in Mr Trump’s remarks last night, he said.
Mrs Clinton also urged her supporters to respect the election result, saying the constitution enshrines the peaceful transition of power.
There were emotional scenes at the hotel in New York where Mrs Clinton addressed supporters
“I’m sorry that we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country,” Mrs Clinton told her supporters in her address in New York.
“We have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling. But some day, someone will,” Mrs Clinton said, referring to her failure to become the first female US president.
“To all the little girls watching… never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world,” she said.
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President-elect Donald Trump told cheering supporters at his campaign rally in the early hours of Wednesday that Americans must now “bind the wounds of division”, after the gruelling, acrimonious electoral battle.
“I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone,” he said.
Who voted for Donald Trump?
53%
of men – 41% backed Clinton
42%
of women – 54% voted for Clinton
58% of white voters supported Trump – 37% backed Clinton
8% of black voters backed Trump – 88% voted for Clinton
29% of Hispanics backed Trump – 65% supported Clinton
House Speaker Paul Ryan paid tribute to his fellow Republican, saying he had “turned politics on its head” and would lead a unified Republican government.
Mr Ryan, a lukewarm supporter of the president-elect, said that his party’s strong showing in elections to the Senate and House of Representatives was thanks in no small part to Mr Trump.
He referred repeatedly to Mr Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, as “my good friend” and “a good man”.
From January the Republicans will control the presidency and both houses of Congress – defying pollsters’ predictions.
IMAGE:
Media caption’I will be president for all Americans’
Source: Edison Research for ABC News, AP, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NBC News
Getty
Media caption Barack Obama: This is the nature of democracy
Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff react as she addresses them at a hotel in New York, November 9, 2016Image copyright REUTERS
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