Donald Trump sounded a note of unity to his supporters in his speech early Wednesday, 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 his supporters around 2:30 a.m. ET as they partied at his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump took the 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 leaving Washington DC in disgrace following the 2020 defeat and the January 6 riot. This time, 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.
Additionally, Trump told the crowd that Republicans have taken control of the Senate and House of Representatives.
“This is the greatest political movement of all time, there has never been anything like it,” Trump said. “This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country.”
Trump briefly handed the microphone to his vice presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Vance congratulated his boss on pulling off “the greatest political comeback.” And Vance promised: “We are going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history under the leadership of Donald Trump.”
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Trump complimented his vice presidential protégé for running for the ticket in interviews with the mainstream media. He described it as sending Vance to “the enemy camp – CNN, MS-DNC. And he goes in and destroys them.”
During a peripatetic speech, Trump went into great detail about his staunch champion, Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk. “He’s a special guy. He is 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 must protect our super geniuses. We don’t have many of those.”
Trump also mentioned UFC leader Dana White, a longtime Trump supporter who was in the crowd of family members and supporters who joined Trump on stage behind a row of American flags. Trump also asked White to speak briefly, which he did enthusiastically. He claimed that Trump’s triumph was all the more remarkable because of the legal and financial problems he has faced since leaving office in 2021.
“This is what happens when the machine comes after you,” White shouted. “He is the most resilient, hard-working man I have ever seen. This is karma, ladies and gentlemen.’ White also called out “the mighty and mighty Joe Rogan,” suggesting the popular podcaster’s support of everyday Americans was important to Trump’s victory.
Trump’s speech was short by his standards and contained few personal attacks or extreme statements. He referred to the assassination attempt he survived in July, with 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 make America great again, and now we are going to fulfill that mission,” Trump said. “The task ahead will not be easy, but I will bring the same energy and spirit that you have entrusted to me.”
(Image: Former President Donald Trump with wife Melania Trump and son Barron as he delivers his victory speech to supporters at Mar-a-Lago)