Despite being behind in nearly all the polls, Trump triumphs.
Donald Trump has stunned the world.
The billionaire was chosen to become the 45th president of the United States Tuesday night despite poll after poll that previously showed him trailing Hillary Clinton.
Trump clinched his victory after scoring a series of unexpected wins in key swing states including Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.
The races were extremely tight in those states, with Trump taking Florida 49 percent to Clinton's 48 percent.
A handful races, including those in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan were all too close to call as polls closed Tuesday night. Pennsylvania became a Trump victory early Wednesday morning.
Wisconsin and Michigan remain too close to call.
Clinton supporters at New York City's Javits Center wept while watching election turns. Others streamed out of the site. Trump said in his victory speech that Clinton had called to concede the race.
"I’ve just received a call from Secretary Clinton,": Trump said. "She congratulated us — it’s about us — on our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard-fought campaign. I mean, she fought very hard."
He added: "Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country."
Clinton did not make a concession speech, but is slated to deliver remarks to supporters Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., her campaign said.
Speaking from the New York Hilton, Trump pushed a message of unity to a packed ballroom of supporters.
"Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division — have to get together," he said. "To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.
"It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past — of which there were a few people — I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.
Asian markets tumbled as news of Trump's voting numbers spread, with Dow futures tumbling.
On Wednesday, President Obama congratulated Trump on his victory, and invited him to the White House to discuss the handing off the reins.
"Ensuring a smooth transition of power is one of the top priorities the President identified at the beginning of the year and a meeting with the President-elect is the next step," White House Press secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.
Tuesday's Trump victory capped more than a year of bitter campaigning between Trump and Clinton. He vowed to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border, ban Muslims from entering the country and bring manufacturing jobs back the United States.
His remarks about Hispanics and Muslims created a massive outcry and accusations of racism. His comments about women and the now-infamous Access Hollywood tape created more controversy as women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct in the past.
Trump denied those claims.
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In presidential debates, Clinton used such accusations to fire back at her opponent and his oft-repeated claim that she belonged in jail and was “crooked.”
Early on Election Day, Trump predicted, "We're going to win a lot of states. Who knows what happens, ultimately, but we're going to win." He also blasted polls showing Clinton with a healthy winning margin.
"I think a lot of polls are purposely wrong. The media is extremely dishonest and I think a lot of polls are phony. I don't think they interview people. I think they put out phony numbers," Trump said on Fox & Friends.
There were scattered reports on Election Day of poll intimidation by Trump supporters. Several counties reported problems with running out of ballots, pens and scanners that weren’t functioning properly.
Voter turnout had been predicted to record-setting numbers.
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