Donald Trump and his wife Melania wave as they smile while standing on stage.

Donald Trump spoke alongside his wife Melania and family at a campaign event in Florida. Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla

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Donald Trump projected to win 2024 US presidential election — as it happened

Follow the 2024 US presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris with live updates and key moments on SBS News.

Donald Trump spoke alongside his wife Melania and family at a campaign event in Florida. Source: Getty / Chip Somodevilla

Published 6 November 2024 9:00am

Updated 6 November 2024 6:56pm

Source: SBS News

Donald Trump has won the US presidential election: projections

Donald Trump will return to the White House after a four-year absence, according to projections.

The Republican candidate has won 277 Electoral College votes, surpassing the 270 needed to become president.

Wisconsin was projected for the Republican, making it impossible for the Democrat candidate Kamala Harris to catch up even though counting is still underway.

In May, Trump, who served as president from 2016 - 2020, became

the first former president to be convicted of a crime

.

A New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

3 months ago6 Nov 11:00pm

That's a wrap

It's 11pm and it's time for us to say goodnight.

Thanks for following our live coverage today. Here's where things stand as we close this blog for the evening:

Donald Trump is the
projected winner of the 2024 US Presidential Election
.
Kamala Harris is yet to concede.
Trump addressed supporters at a campaign event in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday morning (local time), saying they were part of the "greatest political movement of all time". His running mate, JD Vance, said Trump had staged the "greatest political comeback" after the then-incumbent lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.
Earlier, Harris was expected to address a watch party at Howard University in Washington DC but that didn't happen.
Projections suggest the election results were not as close as expected, with some questioning how pollsters got it wrong.

— David Aidone

3 months ago6 Nov 10:48pm

'Going to be rough': NATO prepares for Trump's return

While North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chief

Mark Rutte was quick to congratulate Trump on his victory

, disquiet remains about the effect of a Trump administration on European security.

Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine just beyond the border of the alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

said earlier on Wednesday that

the first battles between the Ukrainian military and North Korean troops fighting for Russia had opened "a new page in instability in the world".

Trump rattled NATO during the campaign by saying he'd encourage Moscow to "do whatever the hell they want" to members not spending enough on defence.

Senior diplomats at NATO, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues, sought to put a positive spin on his return for a second term, saying it could push Europe to get serious about protecting itself.

Harris vs Trump: How the 'fate of the world' is tied to the US election

"Why be scared by Trump now? It is going to be rough, but at least he will pump some energy into the whole thing," one diplomat said.

Trump's first term in power was a rollercoaster for NATO as the president lambasted European allies such as Germany for weak defence spending and reportedly even mulled pulling the US out.

However, some officials said the alliance emerged from Trump's 2016-2020 term stronger as the president and his no-holds-barred style pressured Europe to spend more.

"During his first term, our working relationship focused on bolstering transatlantic security and adapting NATO for the future. In a world of growing instability, strong US leadership remains essential," former NATO head Jens Stoltenberg wrote on X.

- AFP

3 months ago6 Nov 10:26pm

How the race ended where it started for Kamala Harris

In the end, it was the

key battleground state of Wisconsin

that took Donald Trump over the required threshold of 270 Electoral College votes.

Both Kamala Harris and Trump focused a lot of energy campaigning in the state; the former

held the first rally of her presidential campaign

there.

Now, the Associated Press has projected the upper midwest state will deliver a crucial 10 Electoral College votes to Trump, bringing his count to 277.

Trump won the state on a slim margin in 2016 before President Joe Biden re-took it for the Democrats in 2020. Trump

subsequently sought to challenge his defeat there

but was unsuccessful.

3 months ago6 Nov 10:00pm

Wisconsin, the fourth key state, goes to Trump

Just before 6am Eastern Time on Wednesday (10pm AEDT), AP made the projection that Donald Trump would become the 47th president of the United States.

Wisconsin, with its 10 Electoral College votes, pushed Trump over the 270 threshold needed for victory.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 9:45pm

What went wrong for the Democrats? Biden was a big problem, expert says

President Joe Biden was a serious liability for the Democrats, professor of US politics at Sydney University Brendan O'Connor said.

"The idea that Biden was suitable to run for a second term was I think, to most Americans kind of a nonsense, and his performance in that debate was confirmation for many people of what they'd already been thinking for over a year", he said.

"So it was extremely arrogant of Biden and foolish to think that he should run for a second term. He should have made it very clear that it was just a one term only that he was running for."

O'Connor also said the Democrats hurt their own chances by not holding a primary vote earlier in the year.

"They should have had some kind of open process where they debated what kind of issues needed to be at the forefront of their campaign and tested their candidates," he said.

"Harris may have lost the primary but then the party would have moved into the election with an even stronger candidate".

O'Connor also said Harris spoke about only a limited number of policy ideas on the campaign trail and should have been more willing to criticise and distance herself from the Biden administration.

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

3 months ago6 Nov 9:44pm

What can we expect from a Trump presidency?

When Donald Trump was president from 2016-2020, he was seen as impulsive and unpredictable.

So that makes it hard to predict what his next term will be like, but we can analyse comments he's made on the campaign trail.

He's taken a hardline stance on immigration, an important issue for US voters.

He promised a mass deportation of all undocumented migrants if elected, a proposal criticised by both human rights organisations and economists.

During the

ABC News presidential debate with Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris

, Trump falsely claimed: "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs. The people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there."

He has since

stood by the debunked claim

relating to Haitian immigrants in the Ohio city. There have been no credible reports of Haitians eating pets, and officials in Ohio — including Republicans — have repeatedly said the story is untrue.

Trump made tariffs and tax cuts the key elements of his economic pitch to voters. He has said he would cut federal spending, which Republicans blame for triggering consumer price spikes, and trim back federal regulations.

Democrats made reproductive rights and improving access to abortion

central to their campaign.

Trump has said the matter should be left to individual states and that he does not support a national ban on the procedure.

He supports exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother and has said he would not block access to abortion medication. He has also expressed support for in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, which some anti-abortion proponents want to ban.

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

3 months ago6 Nov 9:43pm

China pledges to work with US on basis of 'mutual respect, peaceful coexistence'

China will continue to work with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday, shortly before

Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election.

Chinese strategists expect more fiery rhetoric and potentially crippling tariffs from Trump, who has

proposed tariffs on Chinese imports in excess of 60 per cent

and ending China's most-favoured-nation trading status.

"Our policy towards the US is consistent," spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference in Beijing, when asked how Trump returning to the Oval Office would affect US-China relations.

"We will continue to view and handle China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation," she added.

— Reuters

3 months ago6 Nov 9:07pm

Two states that turned red for Trump

Two states have changed from Democrat to Republican at this election according to projections.

Trump is forecast to win in Georgia and Pennsylvania which have a combined 35 Electoral College votes.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 8:24pm

How the states have changed over the years

While we wait for more calls to come in, here's a look at how elections have gone over the past 100 years.
— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 7:59pm

Hamas official: Trump should learn from Biden's mistakes

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Donald Trump will be tested on his statements that he can stop the war within hours as US president.

"We urge Trump to learn from (President Joe) Biden's mistakes," Abu Zuhri told the Reuters news agency.

— Reuters

3 months ago6 Nov 7:42pm

Anthony Albanese congratulates Donald Trump

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined Opposition leader Peter Dutton in congratulating Donald Trump after he declared election victory.

"Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies," Albanese wrote on X.

"Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future."

— David Aidone

3 months ago6 Nov 7:30pm

'Yesssss': World leaders react to Trump claiming election victory

Donald Trump's declaration of victory in the US election has been met with congratulations from world leaders.

"I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer," Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X.

Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO, said: "I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO."

Anthony Albanese's conversation with Donald Trump after presidential election victory

While in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "history's greatest comeback" and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir tweeted: "Yesssss, God bless Trump."

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote: "As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise."

Meanwhile, Iranians' livelihood will not be impacted by the election, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said, according to the Tasnim news agency.

— Reuters

3 months ago6 Nov 7:15pm

What calls are yet to come in?

Most of the races have been called, but we have a few more results outstanding which will decide the next inhabitant of the White House.

Alaska, Arizona, two districts in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada and Wisconsin are those not yet called by AP.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 7:14pm

Peter Dutton congratulates Donald Trump

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has congratulated Donald Trump on his likely US presidential election win.

Trump has declared victory, but Kamala Harris has not yet conceded and the election outcome has not been called by AP.

"I also congratulate members of the Republican Party on forming a new administration," Dutton said in a statement.

AP has declared the Republicans have taken the Senate, but the House is still up for grabs.

"The United States has been an overwhelming force for good in the world," Dutton said. "When our close ally is strong and at its best, the world is at its best."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to comment.

— David Aidone

3 months ago6 Nov 7:00pm

UFC head says Trump 'does not quit'

Dana White, CEO of the UFC, said Trump deserved the result.

He told supporters: "This is what happens when the machine comes after you, what you have seen the last several years, this is what it looks like.

"Couldn't stop them, he keeps going forward, he doesn't quit, is the most resilient hard-working man I have ever met in my life ... he deserves this. They deserve it as a family."

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 6:59pm

'A star is born - Elon': Trump

Trump continued by praising those celebrities who joined his campaign — including Elon Musk, and podcaster Joe Rogan.

"Let me tell you, we have a new star. A star is born — Elon! Now he's an amazing guy ... He spent two weeks in Philadelphia and different parts of Pennsylvania campaigning. He sent the rocket up two weeks ago and I saw that rocket. I saw it coming down.

"He's a character, he a guy and a super genius. We have to protect our geniuses. We don't have that many of them."

Trump also said Robert F Kennedy Jr would be free to “make America healthy again”.

— Emma Brancatisano

3 months ago6 Nov 6:54pm

Minnesota called for Kamala Harris

Minnesota has been called for Kamala Harris, with 10 Electoral College votes being added to her tally.

Trump is on 267, Harris on 224, with 270 needed to win.

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 6:44pm

'Greatest political comeback', says Vance

JD Vance, the running mate of Donald Trump, said he appreciated the Republican candidate for being on an "incredible journey".

He added: "Thank you for the trust that you have placed in me. I think we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.

"Under Donald Trump's leadership, we're never going to stop fighting for you - for your dreams, for the future of your children.

"After the greatest political comeback in American history, we're going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trump's leadership."

— Alex Britton

3 months ago6 Nov 6:44pm

Trump claims to have 'won the popular vote'

Trump went on to say he had "won the popular vote". This has not yet been determined.

"Thank you very much. Winning the popular vote was very nice, very nice, I will tell you," he said.

"It's a great feeling of love. We have a great feeling of love in this very large room, with unbelievable people standing by my side. These people have been incredible."

Trump went on to say Republicans have "taken back control of the Senate" and that it "also looks like we'll be keeping control of the House of Representatives".

The AP has projected the party has secured a majority in the Senate, however the House is still up for grabs.

— Emma Brancatisano

3 months ago6 Nov 6:43pm

In pictures: Donald Trump addresses supporters

Former President Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump ahead of addressing supporters. Source: AP / Alex Brandon

Trump's campaign headquarters are in West Palm Beach, Florida. Source: AP / Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Donald Trump projected to win 2024 US presidential election — as it happened