Current projections put Donald Trump on 246 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’s 182 in the race for the White House.
Voting has ended in most states, with Trump on the brink of beat Harris and become the 47th US president.
The race initially appeared neck-and-neck as Americans went to the polls.
But on a drama-filled night, Trump pulled ahead as predicted results came in from solidly red states including Florida, Texas and Alabama. He also won in North Carolina, one of the seven crucial swing states.
Harris’ support came from Democrat strongholds on the east and west coast in states like New York, Delaware and California.
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The outcome of the contest will have a sweeping impact on global politics.
Under the US voting system, a total of 270 votes in the college are needed to win the presidency.
The Belfast Telegraph brings you up to date live coverage.
Key updates
US Presidential Election 2024 Polling day in the US presidential election contested by Kamala Harris and Donald Trump has arrived. The campaign trail has been fraught with scandal, including the shooting of former president Trump, president Biden dropping out of the race at the 11th hour and Kamala Harris being slingshot into the limelight as the Democrats’ nominee. Opinion polls cannot split the contestants and the Belfast Telegraph will bring you live coverage of the election right through polling day Tuesday, Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning as America decides its next president.
Fox News says Trump has won US election
Fox News is now projecting that Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States. It is the first major network to project the result.
Voters have elected two black women to serve simultaneously in the US Senate for the first time and sent an openly transgender politician to Congress.
Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester and Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks prevailed in their races, doubling the number of black women ever elected to the Senate – from two to four.
And Delaware voters elected Sarah McBride in a House of Representatives race, making her the first openly transgender person elevated to Congress.
Trump ‘takes Pennsylvania’ – Fox News
Fox News is projecting that Donald Trump has won the pivotal state of Pennsylvania. Other networks have yet to call it, but with 93% of results in, he is leading Kamala Harris by 51.1% to 47.8% according to CNN.
By 4.30am on Wednesday, many of those present at the Democrats Abroad UK event looked despondent, with some appearing close to tears as Ms Harris’s prospects of victory narrowed.
Recap as polls close
- 5.45am – A senior member of Kamala Harris’s campaign confirms the vice president will not be speaking tonight.
- 5.55am – Kamala Harris projected to win New Mexico.
- 6am – Polls now closed across the US.
Republicans have also seized control of the US Senate after flipping Democratic-held seats, wresting away the majority for the first time in four years. The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the top.
Trump to speak shortly
Donald Trump is travelling to the Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he is expected to speak within the next hour. Vice President Kamala Harris will not address supporters tonight.
Republicans rout
Donald Trump is on course to win the popular vote – the first Republican to do so since George W Bush in 2004. Republicans are also likely to take the House of Representatives and Senate in their biggest victory since George HW Bush in 1988.
Trump takes Georgia
Trump has won the second of seven key battleground states by taking Georgia, CNN projects, securing 16 electoral votes, further narrowing Harris’s potential path to the White House.
Virginia victory
Harris will win Virginia and its 13 electoral votes, CNN projects.
Two more for Harris
Another call for Harris from CNN, this time Washington state, with its 12 electoral votes, and Hawaii (four electoral votes)
Trump takes North Carolina
CNN and other major networks are now projecting Donald Trump will win the key battleground state of North Carolina, with its 16 electoral votes.
Oregon projected for Harris
That’s another eight electoral college votes for the US vice-President.
Trump takes Iowa despite pre-election poll
Donald Trump is projected to take Iowa for the third US presidential election in a row. And it comes after the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll had Harris three points ahead in recent days.
Results roll in
Screens show poll results in Times Square in New York on Election Day.
Meanwhile in London…
People pose for photos with a cardboard cut-out of Kamala Harris at the Democrats Abroad US election watching event in central London.
Latest polls close
Polls have now fully closed in four states, including California, Kamala Harris’s home state.
CNN is projecting Harris has taken California, a solid Democrat state, with its 54 electoral college votes, while Idaho (four votes) has been called for Trump.
CNN is projecting Harris has taken California, a solid Democrat state, with its 54 electoral college votes, while Idaho (four votes) has been called for Trump.
News from Pennslyvania
At her re-election party in Swarthmore, Philadelphia, the Irish-American Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon says she believes Pennsylvania still looks hopeful for the Democrats. She is slightly less upbeat about Georgia.
Irish Independent’s Adrian Weckler in Philadelphia
Two more called
Two more states have been projected in the last few minutes by CNN: Colorado for Harris and Mississippi for Trump
Worried Democrats
Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris look at election results during an election night campaign watch party.