Donald Trump sounded a note of unity to his supporters early Wednesday in his address that came shortly after the Associated Press and other major news outlets called the presidential race in his favor.
“We’re going to help our country heal,” Trump told supporters at about 2:30 a.m. ET as they gathered in celebration at his resort facility Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Fla. Trump came out on stage with his wife, Melania Trump, and youngest son, Barron, to the sounds of Lee Greenwood’s patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA.”
Trump marveled at the successful revival of his political movement — after he left Washington, D.C. in disgrace following is defeat in the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 insurrection. This time around, the man who becomes the first president since Grover Cleveland in 1893 to return to the White House after losing a re-election bid noted that he is on track to win the popular vote, which is “very nice, very nice,” he said.
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Furthermore, Trump told the crowd that Republicans have seized control of the Senate and the House of Representatives, though outlets have not yet called a party majority in the latter.
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“This is the greatest political movement of all time, there’s never been anything like this,” Trump said. “This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country.”
Trump handed the microphone briefly to his VP running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. Vance congratulated his boss on achieving “the greatest political comeback.” And Vance vowed, “We’re going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trump’s leadership.”
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Trump complimented his VP protege for doing battle for the ticket in mainstream media interviews. He described it as sending Vance into “the enemy camp – CNN, MS-DNC. And he goes in and obliterates them.”
During a peripatetic speech, Trump went on a long tangent about his fervent champion, Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk. “He’s a special guy. He’s a super-genius,” Trump said of the CEO who donated tens of millions of dollars to Trump’s campaign efforts and related conservative causes. “We have to protect our super geniuses. We don’t have many of them.”
Trump also singled out UFC leader Dana White, a longtime Trump backer who was in the crowd of family members and supporters who joined Trump on the stage behind a bank of American flags. Trump also asked White to speak briefly, which he enthusiastically did. He asserted that Trump’s triumph was all the more remarkable because of the legal and financial troubles he’s faced since leaving office in 2021.
“This is what happens when the machine comes after you,” White shouted. “He’s the most resilient, hard-working man I’ve ever seen. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen.” White also gave a shout-out to “the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan,” suggesting that the popular podcaster’s support with everyday Americans was important to Trump’s victory.
Trump’s speech was short by his standards and light on personal attacks or extreme statements. He made reference to the assassination attempt that he survived in July, giving a nod to divine intervention.
“Many people have told me that God spared me for a reason, and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness, and now we are going to go fulfill that mission,” Trump said. “The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring and bring out the same energy and spirit that you’ve entrusted to me.”
