Seeking to “bind the wounds of division” after a bitter and divisive campaign, Donald Trump today pledged to be the President for all Americans and asked Republicans, Democrats and independents across the country to come together as one united people.
Skipping policy issues in his victory speech, the 70-year-old President-elect congratulated his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton with whom he had crossed words during the long, often ugly campaign, saying she fought very hard.
“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,” Trump told his supporters at the campaign headquarters amid cheers and shouting.
Flanked by his wife Melania and children and running mate Mike Pence, he said he meant that very sincerely.
“Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division, have to get together, to all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation I say it is time for us to come together as one united people,” he said.
“It is time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me,” Trump asserted.
“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,” Trump said during his speech.
“As I’ve said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their family,” he added.
He said Clinton telephoned him to concede the race shortly after she lost in Pennsylvania. “She congratulated us — it is about us — on our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard-fought campaign,” he said.
Trump pledged to “deal fairly with everyone,” including “all other nations.”
“We will get along with all other nations willing to get along with us. We will have great relationships,” he added.