“Now it's time for America to bind the wounds of division, we have to get together," Donald Trump said. | Getty President-elect Donald Trump calls for unity after brutal election

A triumphant President-elect Donald Trump early Wednesday morning pledged to unify the country after perhaps the most divisive and brutal presidential campaign in modern history, as he celebrated the “movement” that catapulted him into the White House.

“Now it's time for America to bind the wounds of division, we 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,” Trump said at the New York Hilton in Midtown Manhattan. “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,” Trump said, eliciting a wave of laughter from the crowd. “For your guidance and your help, so that we can work together and unify our great country.”

Trump took the stage backed by the theme from the movie “Air Force One” and began his victory speech by telling the crowd that he was “sorry to keep you waiting” for remarks that began close to 3 a.m. eastern time. Flanked by running mate Mike Pence and his youngest son, Barron, the former reality TV star told the crowd that Clinton had called him to concede the election and congratulate him. After weeks of decrying her as “crooked Hillary” and a “nasty woman,” Trump sounded a decidedly more conciliatory tone toward the former secretary of state Wednesday morning.

“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 said. “I mean that very sincerely.”

Trump was introduced by Pence, who told the assembled revelers that “the American people have elected their new champion.”

“This is a historic night,” Pence said. “I'm deeply grateful to the American people for placing their confidence in this team and giving us this opportunity to serve. And I'm mostly grateful to our president-elect whose leadership and vision will make America great again.”

As he did so often on the campaign trail, Trump labeled his ascent to the White House a “movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds, and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people.” He pledged to rebuild the country’s infrastructure and “fix our inner cities,” creating millions of jobs in the process. He promised to “take care of our great veterans” and create “the strongest economy anywhere in the world.”

All of it, he said, will amount to “a project of national growth and renewal.”

“I've spent my entire life in business, looking at the untapped potential in projects and in people all over the world. That is now what I want to do for our country. Tremendous potential,” he said. “I've gotten to know our country so well. Tremendous potential. It's going to be a beautiful thing. Every single American will have the opportunity to realize his or her fullest potential."

He spent significant time during his speech thanking the various surrogates and supporters he has relied on throughout the campaign. In addition to his family members, Trump specifically thanks Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, who Trump called “a superstar like Secretariat” and invited to the microphone, looked almost relieved as he leaned into the podium to announce “Ladies and gentlemen, the next president of the United States, Donald Trump! Thank you. It's been an honor. God bless,” punctuating it by adding “thank God” before walking off stage.

Trump secured a stunning victory in the presidential race early Wednesday morning, winning the White House when nearly every nationwide poll showed him trailing Clinton in the days leading up to the election. His triumph over the former secretary of state capped an improbable Election Night that upset the predictions of nearly every pundit, save those most loyal to Trump.

After building his campaign around his status as the consummate outsider, Trump has become the first person elected to the presidency who has not served in the government in any capacity, either in the military or elected office.

The Manhattan billionaire faced a relatively narrow path to the presidency relative to Clinton but managed to nearly run the table in swing states like Ohio and Florida, in addition to picking off states widely thought to be leaning Clinton’s way, including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Brent Griffiths contributed to this report.

