Trump wins US presidential election: US media

International

Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, US media announced Wednesday, beating Democrat Kamala Harris to complete a stunning political comeback.

Trump's victory was called by multiple television networks. It returns him to the White House after a long, bruising campaign that saw the polarizing Republican ride out two assassination bids and a criminal conviction.

Results showed Trump beating Vice President Kamala Harris in a race far less tight than expected, as he triumphed in key battleground states.

Victory in Wisconsin, following earlier triumphs in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania saw the former president clear the 270 Electoral College votes required to clinch the White House in the November 5 election.

Trump’s victory in those swing states currently sees him with 277 votes against 224 for Harris. Polls had predicted a much tighter race, but it appears that anger fuelled the Republican’s remarkable comeback from defeat in 2020 and widespread condemnation of his refusal to accept the result.

That refusal sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, and Trump was also convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.