Barack Obama pledges support for Donald Trump and is 'rooting for his success'

Fiona Simpson10 November 2016

President Barack Obama is “rooting for Donald Trump’s success”, he told supporters.

Mr Obama urged American’s "not to get cynical” following Mr Trump’s stunning victory in the presidential election.

He said: “I know everybody had a long night. I did as well.

“It is no secret that the president-elect and I have some pretty significant differences. But remember that eight years ago, President Bush and I had some pretty significant differences.

Donald Trump: The president-elect at his election night rally in Manhattan
REUTERS

“The presidency and vice presidency is bigger than any of us.

“We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading this country. The peaceful transfer of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.”

He added that he had spoken to the President-elect at 3.30am (local time), an hour after Mrs Clinton rang the billionaire businessman to admit defeat.

Concession speech: Hillary Clinton was supported by husband Bill as she gave a tearful speech (Getty Images)
Jewel Samad/Getty Images

Encouraging Democrat supporters not to be “discouraged” by the result, he said: “I want you to know, you have to stay encouraged, don’t get cynical. “Fighting for what is right is important.

"I’ve lost elections before (…) we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off, we get back in the arena.

“We move forward.”

Speaking of Mrs Clinton, Mr Obama added: “I could not be prouder of her. I am proud of her. A lot of Americans look up to her.”

Mr Trump stormed to victory earlier today after the tightest race to the White House in history.

As the President-elect won polls in crucial swing states including Florida, Ohio and North Carolina the result began to look bleak for Democratic voters.

Defying pollsters, analysts and even leaders of his own Republican Party, the outspoken outsider passed the finishing line of 270 electoral college votes needed to become the 45th President of the United States.

A Trump win in Pennsylvania gave him 274 votes in the electoral college. With results still being counted in some states, Mr Trump was also winning the popular vote by 1 per cent.

Hillary Clinton v Donald Trump: US Presidential Election

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In his victory speech, the billionaire businessman paid tribute to the Democratic candidate after months of lambasting her as “Crooked Hillary” and offered an olive branch to his critics.

He declared: “Now it’s time to bind the wounds of division. It’s time for us to come together as one people.”

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