Vows to put an end to ‘endless wars’

WASHINGTON—Republican former president Donald Trump has won the White House, securing more than the 270 electoral votes needed to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in what would be the most stunning comeback in US political history.

US media have declared Trump the winner in more than half of the 50 US states, including the four key battlegrounds Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, three of which voted Democratic in the last election.

That gave him 276 electoral votes.

Major networks have called the election in his favor, after an early call from Fox News.

Harris has so far captured 219 electoral votes.

Trump would be the oldest ever president at the time of inauguration, the first felon president, and only the second in history to serve non-consecutive terms.

Joyful supporters waited for the 78-year-old to speak at a watch party in Florida—while gloom descended in Harris’s camp as aides said she would no longer speak as expected.

In his victory speech, Trump promised to “put an end to endless wars.”

He underscored his vision of a “strong America” focused less on intervention and more on peace.

“The days of sending our young men and women into endless wars are over…We will bring peace back home.”

In a further blow to Democrats, Trump’s Republican Party also seized control of the Senate, flipping two seats to overturn a narrow Democratic majority.

US allies in Europe and Asia fear a return of his nationalist policies and his praise of autocrats like Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

But the US dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high while most equity markets advanced as traders bet on a victory for Trump as the results rolled in.

World leaders raced to congratulate Trump on Wednesday.

 Without directly mentioning Trump, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing that China hopes for “peaceful coexistence” with the United States.

“We will continue to approach and handle China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” she said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists he was unaware of any plans by Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump since the US is an “unfriendly country.”

“We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words,” Peskov said.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Trump’s win as “history’s greatest comeback!”

“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!” Netanyahu said in a statement.

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Agence France Presse that under Trump the United States’ “blind support for the Zionist entity must end because it comes at the expense of the future of our people and the security and stability of the region.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Trump on his “impressive victory” and said he hoped his presidency would bring a “just peace in Ukraine closer.”

“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs,” Zelensky said in a statement on social media.

NATO chief Mark Rutte congratulated Trump and said his return to power would help keep the alliance “strong.” 

“His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO,” Rutte said.

“I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump,” European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. “We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let’s work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated the 78-year-old on his “historic election victory.”

“From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters he hopes “to work closely with Mr Trump to take the Japan-US alliance and Japan-US relationship to new heights.”

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “President-elect Trump at 276 electoral votes, Harris at 219: US media.”