Trump strikes unifying tone in victory speech

by Ben Kamisar - 11/09/16 2:59 AM ET

.@realDonaldTrump: "It's time for us to 'come together as one united people." https://t.co/dcOvqMYrDy #Election2016 https://t.co/uKeoy6z4tL

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 9, 2016

President-elect Donald Trump sought to cast himself as a unifier in his victory speech early Wednesday morning, calling for all Americans to come together to “bind the wounds of division.”

“To all Democrats, Republicans, independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people,” Trump said, taking the stage just before 3 a.m. after walking out to the score from the movie “Air Force One.”

“For those who chose not to support me in the past, of which there are a few people, I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so we can reach out and unify our great country.”

Trump became president-elect after a stunning string of victories in almost every major swing state, threading the needle on what many political pundits had deemed an impossible path to 270 electoral votes.

While the conversation in recent weeks had centered on whether he would concede if he lost, Trump addressed his supporters at the New York Hilton Midtown with more than 270 electoral votes in the bag and more potentially on the way.

Trump immediately praised his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, noting that she had called to concede and congratulate him just a few minutes before — even after campaign chairman John Podesta had said earlier that the campaign would not concede until all the votes were counted.

“Hillary has worked very hard over a long period of time and we owe her a major debt for her service to our country,” Trump said.

“I mean that sincerely,” he added, a nod to the contentious rhetoric on the campaign trail that led to him labeling her “Crooked Hillary” and calling on her to be put in prison.

Then, the real estate mogul sought to show he will be willing to work with others in his administration.

“While we will put Americans interest first, we will deal fairly with everyone,” Trump said. “We will seek common ground, not hostility.”

Flanked by his family and the family of his vice presidential pick, Mike Pence, a gracious Trump called out to his own family, thanking them for putting up with the brutal campaign schedule.

He spotlighted some of his campaign staff as well as supporters, like former New York City Mayor Rudi Giuliani, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee and former Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.

And he called out to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, downplaying reports of infighting and calling him an “unbelievable star.”

In an unconventional moment, Trump called Priebus up to the stage, urging him to say a few words despite his protests.

“It’s about time you did this, Reince,” Trump said with a smile, before Priebus briefly congratulated Trump.

To close, Trump argued that while his shocking victory was historic, he must perform well as president to truly be historic.

“I promise you will not let you down. I look very much forward to being your president,” he said.

“Hopefully at the end of two years, or three years, or four years, or maybe even eight years, you will say, so many of you worked so hard for us, but you will say that is something you were really proud to do.”

Just before he left the stage, Trump added a brief thank-you to Pence, reaching over to shake his future vice president’s hand.

Trump walked off stage to the Rolling Stones’s “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” a song that usually closed out Trump campaign rallies.

The Associated Press declared Trump the election winner just after 2:30 a.m. after Wisconsin delivered Trump the pivotal electoral votes.

Lisa Hagen contributed.

Updated at 3:37 a.m.

Tags Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Jeff Sessions Mike Pence