Donald Trump stuns the world, elected USA's 45th president
This is the quote: Such a beautiful and important evening! The forgotten man and woman will never be forgotten again. We will all come together as never before
— Donald J. Trump
Washington, DC — Donald Trump, sweeping to victory as the 45th president of the United States in a bitterly fought campaign that defied the polls, pledged Thursday to "be a president for all Americans."
One by one, as the late vote count mounted int the early hours Wednesday, Trump dealt repeated blows to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by storming through battleground states: Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and then Wisconsin.
Shortly after 2 a.m. ET, Clinton phoned Trump to concede. She planned to deliver public remarks in New York at mid-morning.
While decisive, Trump's victory was also close. At mid-morning, Trump — needing 270 electoral votes to claim victory —had 276 to to Clinton's 218 with 44 votes still undecided.
The popular vote proved particularly close, with Clinton at mid-morning posting a razor-thin lead, 47.6% to Trump's 47.5 out of more than 118 million votes cast.
The often bombastic real-estate mogul struck a conciliatory tone as he addressed an enthusiastic crowd of supporters in New York to claimed victory.
"I pledge to be president for all Americans," the billionaire real-estate mogul and reality TV star told an enthusiastic crowd of supporters in New York after his victory was confirmed. "We are going to rebuild our inner cities... We will rebuild our infrastructure, which will become second to none." He also pledged to create jobs and take care of veterans.
Trump said he congratulated Clinton for a "very, very hard-fought campaign."
"Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country," he said. "I mean that very sincerely. Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division, have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people."
On Wednesday morning, President Obama called the president-elect "to congratulate him on his victory" and invite him to the White House on Thursday to discuss the transition, the White House said in a statement.
“Ensuring a smooth transition of power is one of the top priorities the President identified at the beginning of the year and a meeting with the President-elect is the next step,” the statement said.
As the victory was sealed after midnight Tuesday, Vice President-elect Mike Pence spoke first to supporters in New York, thanking them for their hard work and enthusiasm.
"This is a historic night," Pence said. "The American people have spoken and the American people have elected their new champion."
Trump claimed victories in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Utah, Idaho, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Missouri, Montana, Louisiana, Arkansas,Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Indiana.
Pollsters and pundits have given Trump little chance of claiming the job ever since announcing his candidacy in a raucous speech in June 2015. But he quickly took the lead in a crowded Republican field, sweeping to the nomination despite drawing tepid support from party leaders.
As the victory was sealed after midnight Tuesday, Vice President-elect Mike Pence spoke first to supporters in New York, thanking them for their hard work and enthusiasm.
"This is a historic night," Pence said. "The American people have spoken and the American people have elected their new champion."
Trump claimed victories in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Utah, Idaho, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Missouri, Montana, Louisiana, Arkansas,Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Indiana.
Pollsters and pundits have given Trump little chance of claiming the job ever since announcing his candidacy in a raucous speech in June 2015. But he quickly took the lead in a crowded Republican field, sweeping to the nomination despite drawing tepid support from party leaders.
NCGA statement on 2016 election
The National Corn Growers Association congratulated Donald Trump on his election as the 45th President, and pledged to work with the new Administration and Congress on important issues of the day.
“The American people have spoken. Now, it is time for us all to set aside our differences, roll up our sleeves, and get to work,” said Wesley Spurlock, a farmer from Stratford, Texas, and president of the National Corn Growers Association.
“As a supporter of the No Labels movement, the National Corn Growers Association believes in bipartisan problem-solving and building a more responsive and accountable government. We stand ready to work together with President-Elect Trump and the new Congress to make government work better for us all,” said Spurlock.
“We look forward to working with the Trump transition team and assisting in any way possible to make his Administration a successful one,” said Executive Vice President Jon Doggett. “The National Corn Growers Association is committed to working with the White House and Congress to solve important policy and regulatory issues and move our country forward.”
Spurlock urged the current Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement during its lame-duck session in December.
“Congress still has important work to do yet this year. We urge Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership when they return to Washington next month. TPP is the one thing Congress can do right now to increase farm income, generate economic activity, and promote job growth. Campaign rhetoric has set America’s trade agenda back years. Let’s take a big step back in the right direction and pass TPP,” said Spurlock.
ASA congratulates President-Elect Trump
American Soybean Association (ASA) Vice President and Roseville, Ill., soybean farmer Ron Moore congratulated President-Elect Donald Trump on his victory early this morning. In a statement, Moore pointed to the work ahead for the Trump Administration and the 115th Congress on critical agriculture issues and signaled ASA's willingness to collaborate on securing policy that benefits American soybean farmers:
"The American Soybean Association congratulates Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential election. We look forward to working with the new administration and the 115th Congress to communicate and advance soybean farmer priorities. President-Elect Trump said repeatedly on the campaign trail that he would ensure farmers are at the table when important decisions affecting agriculture are made, and we will work with President Trump to make sure we indeed are at the table.
"We applaud his pro-farmer stance on the renewable fuel standard, on reducing the burden of regulations like the EPA's Waters of the U.S. rule, on investing in our nation's supply chain infrastructure, and on protecting farm and food programs in the farm bill. We look forward to taking an active and cooperative role as the Trump Administration works on these critical issues.
"We look forward as well to a constructive discussion on President-Elect Trump's stance on trade. It is impossible to overstate the importance of trade--and specifically of the Chinese market--to American soybean farmers. Similarly, our export markets in North America and Southeast Asia are extraordinarily important trading partners. We export half of all soy grown in the U.S. One in four rows of beans goes to China, and Mexico is our second-largest market. We are eager to work together to illustrate how critical an aggressive trade agenda is for soybean farmers.
"Congratulations to President-Elect Trump and to the incoming members of the 115th Congress. ASA stands ready to work with these men and women on behalf of the nation's soybean farmers."
ASA urges Congress to make TPP a priority
With the election over and Congress reconvening to set their lame duck agenda, the American Soybean Association (ASA) urges Members of Congress to prioritize and pass the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, thus allowing the U.S., and soybean industry, to better participate in the global economy.
“TPP passage is vital to farmers across the country, as well as the processors and exporters that take U.S. soybeans to markets around the world,” said ASA President and Greenwood, Del. farmer Richard Wilkins.
With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States, passage of TPP will open new global markets and is projected to boost farm exports by $4.4 billion each year.
“Farmers support the improved access to foreign markets through TPP, and welcome the potential for expanded soybean exports in the forms of oil and feed,” Wilkins said. “Overall, TPP has the power to create jobs at home, boost the farm economy and explore foreign markets.”
WEAC Statement on school referendum, general election results
Voters in communities across Wisconsin supported their neighborhood public schools in Tuesday's election, casting ballots to increase funding to maintain opportunities for students, attract and keep committed and qualified teachers, and provide safe, modern facilities. The following statement on the outcome of school referendum elections can be attributed to Ron Martin, an Eau Claire social studies teacher and president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council.
“State lawmakers who have gutted funding for their neighborhood public schools should wake up and smell the coffee this morning, given the results of Tuesday’s school referendums. Voters have again supported raising taxes on themselves to be sure their children have opportunities for success. The people we elect to represent us in Madison should keep in mind, as they develop the next state budget, that Wisconsin loves its public schools and we are counting on them to work for us, not against us.”
Regarding the General Election outcome in national and statewide races, Martin said:
“As teachers, we know our students are paying close attention to what happens next. This morning, we will return to our schools and continue to do what we do best – educate children and help them understand the world in which they live. Parents and educators will need to be vigilant in demanding politicians be role models going forward. Democracy is founded upon tolerance and participation, and without that, children have the most to lose from the outcome of this election.”
Statement by Zippy Duvall
“The American Farm Bureau Federation congratulates President-elect Trump on his election, as well as those candidates elected to serve during the 115th Congress. The important issues facing American agriculture are not red or blue, but they are critical to the prosperity of rural America and our ability to protect our nation’s food supply. We urge our elected representatives to reach across the aisle and come together to resolve the challenges we face.
“Farmers and ranchers understand that their businesses and their families have too much at stake to take a back seat on Election Day, and rural America clearly made a difference in this election. Now it’s time for our newly elected leaders to turn up for rural America and keep their campaign promises by addressing the issues that matter to the people who sent them to Washington. Farm Bureau looks forward to working with the new administration and Congress on issues such as the farm bill, tax reform and a trade agenda focused on reducing barriers and expanding exports.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are working overtime to ensure our food supply is safe and sustainable. It’s time our elected leaders put that same diligence to work protecting U.S. agriculture by promoting innovation and ensuring we have an adequate workforce. We need regulatory reform that boosts farm businesses rather than shutting them down. Farmers are concerned for the environment and are hopeful that the new administration will recognize agriculture’s strides in sustainability and protect our ability to produce.
“Elected officials come to Washington with different perspectives and ideas, but they share a common goal of wanting to make our nation better for all Americans. At Farm Bureau, we will continue to do our part to help identify opportunities for cooperation to improve the lives of rural communities, and all American farmers and ranchers.”
NCBA statement regarding the 2016 national election
A statement by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Tracy Brunner following the 2016 national election:
“Although it is still too early to determine what exactly this election will mean for our priorities, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association remains committed to expanding access to foreign markets, fighting burdensome federal regulations and ensuring the continued health of our herd and industry. I am proud to see that across the nation, the majority of candidates and incumbents we, and our state affiliates supported through the NCBA Political Action Committee, were elected or re-elected.
“In the coming weeks, we will continue to work with Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership, defund EPA’s flawed “waters of the United States” rule, and pass the National Defense Authorization Act which includes language to mitigate the sage grouse stubble height requirements and other restrictions on grazing based on flawed science. In the year ahead, we look forward to working with a new Congress and Administration to ensure the priorities of cattlemen and women nationwide are met.”