WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has won the presidential election in Arizona, Edison Research projected on Saturday, completing a sweep of all seven battleground states and locking in a decisive Electoral College victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Republican Trump, who had secured the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House by early on Wednesday, now has what is expected to be a final total of 312 votes to Harris’ 226.
In addition to Arizona, Trump won the swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Nevada. In 2020, Joe Biden defeated Trump by winning six of the seven swing states – and narrowly losing North Carolina and won 306 Electoral College votes to Trump’s 232.
Trump also won 306 in his 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton. The Associated Press said Trump has won 74.6 million votes nationwide, or 50.5%, to Harris’ 70.9 million, or 48 per cent.
After Congress certifies the Electoral College vote on January 6, Trump and his incoming vice president, US Senator JD Vance, are due to take office on January 20.
Biden will ask Trump to back Ukraine: Sullivan
US President Joe Biden will tell the US Congress and the incoming administration of president-elect Donald Trump that Washington should not walk away from Ukraine as that could instigate more instability in Europe, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview on the CBS News show Face the Nation on Sunday.
Donald Trump ruled out two of his previous cabinet members — former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley — to be part of his upcoming administration.
“I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump administration, which is currently in formation,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Pompeo served as the CIA Director and Secretary of State in his first term, while Haley served as his ambassador to the United Nations in the first two years of his presidency. Both his cabinet-ranking officials later entered the presidential race against him in the Republican primaries.
“I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” Trump said.