With the U.S. presidential race still unfolding, former President Donald Trump declared early victory on Wednesday, hours after a key battleground state, Pennsylvania, was called in his favor.
Speaking to a jubilant crowd at his campaign headquarters, Trump appeared alongside his running mate, JD Vance, and their families, as an announcer referred to Trump as “President-Elect” and Vance as “Vice President-Elect.” The announcement sparked immediate cheers and chants of “USA” from the audience.
“This is the greatest political movement of all time,” Trump told supporters, expressing confidence in his chances of reclaiming the White House.
Trump’s victory declaration comes after he appeared to lead in both the popular vote and the Electoral College, with key states tipping in his favor. The former president made his statement shortly after 2:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. Nigerian Time) on Wednesday, as Pennsylvania, a pivotal swing state, was projected to back him.
While Trump’s leads in several states and continued dominance in key battleground areas put him in a strong position, the race is far from over. A final outcome will only be determined once all ballots are counted, certified, and the Electoral College formally casts its votes.
Although Trump has proclaimed victory, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic challenger, has yet to concede. She did not address supporters on Tuesday evening and continues to await the final tally.
Election experts emphasize that the official outcome of the race hinges on certified vote counts from each state. With several swing states still counting ballots, some races are expected to be extremely close, potentially going down to the wire.
While candidates may express confidence in the projected results, the election isn’t officially decided until one candidate secures 270 electoral votes. In the meantime, both campaigns will be closely monitoring the ongoing tally, awaiting the final determination of the next U.S. president.
