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In an astounding development, Donald Trump became U.S. president-elect, the U.S. top political post for presumably one of the richest and least experienced men to assume the office in history.
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In a concession speech in New York before on Nov. 9, Democratic presidential lose, Clinton said, "Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead," Clinton, the Democratic nominee, said
The projection wraps up what has been described as the longest, most cringe-worthy election season in memory, with neither candidate inspiring enthusiasm from the millions of voters and millions who preferred to abstain.
Meanwhile, outgoing President Barack Obama, who campaigned hard against Trump, invited him to the White House after a brutal night for his Democratic Party, which also fell short of recapturing majorities in both chambers of Congress.
"We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country," Obama said at the White House, adding he and his staff would work with Trump to ensure a successful transition. "We are not Democrats first, we are not Republicans first, we are Americans first."
After months of sowing disunity and hatred, Trump – in perhaps his most hypocritical speech – called for unity in the U.S., vowing that he would represent "all Americans."
Calling on a rogues' gallery of right-wingers such as Rudy Giuliani, Ben Carson, Chris Christie and Jeff Sessions, among others, Trump may have been parading his future cabinet during his victory speech.
Trump’s win has been described as a nightmare scenario, earning the endorsement of white supremacist groups like the KKK and drawing non-stop headlines for racist, Islamophobic and sexist gaffes.
Investors around the world were shocked that the presumptive winner, Clinton, fell behind by decimals of a percentage point. Trump had warned about a “rigged” election, but most voting irregularities affected people of color and low-income people turned away from the polls because of changes to voting laws.
In a campaign that focused more on the character of the candidates than on policy, Clinton and Trump both accused each other of being fundamentally unfit to lead the country. Voters agreed: about 58 percent said they would be afraid should Trump win and 53 percent were concerned about a Clinton presidency, according to early exit polls released by CNN.
According to an NBC exit poll, the super rich backed Trump as well as smaller cities and suburban areas. Youth favored Clinton, while older voters went with Trump.
Most voters also wanted a "strong leader who can take the country back from the rich and powerful," according to an early reading from the Reuters/Ipsos national Election Day poll — something neither billionaire and multi-millionaire candidates had been seen as offering.
Trump was continuously blasted for his dangerous rhetoric and obvious inexperience, seeming to make up his position on the fly, especially on foreign policy.
Voters also decided on 34 of the 100 senate seats and all 435 House seats and on propositions from legalizing marijuana to raising the minimum wage.
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