Current projections put Donald Trump on 266 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’s 188 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 is also projected to have won in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, three 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.
Trump: American people have regained control
Trump tells supporters: “You showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory like no other … this was something special and we’re going to pay you back … this will forever be remembered as the day that the American people regained control of their country”
Special guest
US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau has made a fleeting appearance on stage at Trump’s victory rally
Vance: ‘Greatest political comeback’
JD Vance, the vice-president elect, hails ‘incredible journey’ and says he has witnessed the ‘greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America’. He then pledges the ‘greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trump’s leadership’
‘An unprecedented mandate’
Trump: America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.
Trump: Our golden age
Trump: This will truly be the golden age of America … this is a magnificent victory for the American people that will let us make America great again
Trump: Time to heal
Donald Trump is addressing supporters in Florida. He tells them: “We are going to help our country heal”
CNN and NBC call Pennsylvania
CNN and NBC are now projecting that Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania – the most pivotal state in the election race, putting him on the brink of victory.
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.