WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former President Donald Trump declared victory early Wednesday morning — NBC News did not predict a winner — after capturing a number of swing states, including Pennsylvania.
“I want to thank the American people for the honor of being elected as your 47th and 45th president,” Trump told supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“It was a move no one had seen before,” he said. “Frankly, I believe it was the greatest political movement of all time.”
“Now it’s going to take on a new level of importance,” Trump said of his return to the White House. “Because we’re going to help our country heal.”
He was joined on stage by his family, key staff and running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
“Well, Mr. President, thank you for allowing me to join you on this incredible journey,” Vance said during his brief remarks. “I think we’ve witnessed the greatest political turnaround in the history of the United States of America.”
Trump spoke to a packed ballroom of supporters who spent the final hours of the evening cheering as key states called for Trump, the first being Georgia and North Carolina.
Fox News called for Trump in Pennsylvania just before 1:30 a.m., prompting a huge eruption of supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Center, where the campaign had gathered for a key election night event. His supporters and employees hugged and cheered each other for the important victory.
Shortly after, NBC News he called For Trump in Pennsylvania, he is just four votes short of the 270 he needs to win.
Trump also led the popular vote as of 2:30 a.m. by nearly 5 million votes, making him the first Republican candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.
“It was great to win the popular vote,” Trump said as the crowd began to change “USA.” “Very nice.”
Trump said the country has lost a little something called “special” over the past four years.
“We’re going to make it the best it’s ever been,” he said.
Trump spent little time discussing policy during his victory speech, but he touched on one of the main points of his campaign: illegal immigration.
“We’re going to have to seal those borders,” Trump said. “We have to let them come back, but they have to come back legally.”