US election results: Donald Trump defeats Hillary Clinton to win

Photo: Republican Donald Trump has defeated his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the US election. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst )

Related Story: Live: Trump wins US election

Map: United States

Republican Donald Trump has defeated his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the US election, according to ABC election analyst Antony Green, and will become America's next president.

Key points:

• Donald Trump will become America's 45th president, according to Antony Green
• Mr Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in some key swing states
• Mrs Clinton will not be speaking publicly tonight
• We're expecting to hear from Mr Trump soon

Both candidates had early victories but Mr Trump picked up the key battleground states of Ohio, Florida and North Carolina.
Mrs Clinton will not be speaking publicly this evening.
Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta told a room full of supporters at Clinton's election rally in New York to go home.
"Several states are too close to call so we're not going to have anything more to say tonight," he said.
"You should get some sleep. We'll have more to say tomorrow," Mr Podesta said.
While Green has called it for the Republican, some US media outlets are yet to announce a Trump win.
"There are the current numbers, 259 for the Republicans, if you give Pennsylvania the Republicans, 279 and they can quote that," Green said on ABC24.

Troublemaker to president

Donald Trump has had several roles including super-rich property tycoon, self-styled saviour of the downtrodden and now President of the United States.

"We think the Republicans will win Wisconsin as well. So they've got two paths. But Associated Press have given Pennsylvania away and they've got 97 per cent of the votes counted of the precincts counted in Pennsylvania and the Republicans are more than 1 per cent ahead.
"It looks like that's the state that's put Donald Trump over the quota and into the White House."
Predictions say the GOP will also hold onto a majority in the House and gain control of the Senate.
The shock result came after opinion polls over the weekend showed Mrs Clinton went into polling day with the advantage over her Republican rival.

Clinton supporters in shock

North America correspondent Stephanie March is at Hillary Clinton's headquarters in New York where supporters are visibly devastated.
"Hillary Clinton and her supporters had hoped to make history today by electing the first female president in the United States," she said.
"Heading into election day polls had pointed to a victory for the Democrats nominee but losses key states south eastern of in Florida and North Carolina significantly narrowed her path to victory."
Washington bureau chief Zoe Daniel is also at the headquarters:
"People have literally sat around in this venue on the floor, staring into space, some people are in tears. People are hugging each other," Ms Daniel said.
"There's just a sense of pervasive shock. Not only that Hillary Clinton appears to have lost the election, but that it has been such a complete and utter rout".
Mrs Clinton had a lead in Florida of one percentage point and a win there would likely have secured her the presidency.
But Mr Trump enjoyed a swing in the state, winning it back from the Democrats.
More to come.
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