In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Donald Trump took the stage at Trump Headquarters in Florida to celebrate a historic victory, securing the necessary 270 electoral votes and clinching the popular vote by over 5 million ballots at the time of his speech. With votes still being tallied, Trump’s decisive wins in multiple swing states ensured his return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States. In doing so, he becomes only the second president in U.S. history, after Grover Cleveland, to win non-consecutive terms. Senator JD Vance will serve as his vice president.

Before Trump’s speech, the Harris campaign announced that Vice President Kamala Harris would not be addressing her supporters that night as initially planned. Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond appeared briefly at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Harris’s alma mater, to inform her supporters that she would address them on Wednesday, though no specific time was given. Richmond assured those gathered that “there were still votes to be counted,” despite the mounting challenges for Democrats.

Trump took the stage flanked by family members, campaign staff, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, thanking his supporters and declaring that America was entering a “golden age.” “There has never been anything of this kind in this country,” Trump said, celebrating what he called “the greatest political movement.” In his speech, he promised to “help our country heal,” emphasizing his goals of securing the borders and working daily to fight for American citizens.

In a notable shift from his first term, Trump’s message was one of unity. “It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us,” he stated, calling for Americans to come together in this new era. His victory speech touched on a wide range of issues, from border security to the economy, declaring, “This victory will allow us to make America great again.”

Trump celebrated the Republican control of the Senate, which was critical in securing his legislative agenda. He credited his supporters for the success of the movement, saying, “We just witnessed the greatest political comeback in American history,” before inviting Vice President-elect JD Vance to address the crowd. “We are going to lead the greatest economic comeback under Donald Trump’s leadership,” Vance said, acknowledging the challenges ahead while expressing optimism about the future.

In an emotional conclusion, Trump thanked key supporters, calling Elon Musk a “star” and expressing gratitude for the faith placed in him. He shared a deeply personal message with his supporters, attributing his survival and return to a divine purpose. “God spared my life for a reason, and that reason was to save our country,” he said. Trump committed to governing with the motto, “promises made, promises kept,” vowing to honor his commitment to the American people and bridge divisions.