Scott Morrison's "miracle" election win has been cheered by conservatives in the US and compared to Donald Trump's surprise 2016 presidential win when polls had predicted he would lose.

"Congratulations to Scott on a GREAT WIN!" Mr Trump himself tweeted while US cable TV news channel Fox News described the Australian prime minister's triumph as "a stunning victory".

Congratulations to Scott on a GREAT WIN! https://t.co/IKxDrQmHfV — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2019

American political activist Pamela Geller trumpeted "the people are taking back their countries from the totalitarian left".

"SHOCKING Australia Election Results: Australia's Conservative Party Seizes Stunning Win: The Trump effect. Polls were wrong.... again," Ms Geller, founder of The Geller Report and president of Stop Islamisation of America, wrote on Twitter.

SHOCKING Australia Election Results: Australia’s Conservative Party Seizes Stunning Win: The Trump effect. Polls were wrong.... again. The people are taking back their countries from the totalitarian left. Excelsior! https://t.co/ooNEAvxBg8 pic.twitter.com/EoQhgKec9Y — Pamela Geller (@PamelaGeller) May 18, 2019

Axios' Amy Harder told readers the election result indicates "Australia will continue to closely resemble the Trump administration's positioning on climate change.

"Climate advocates had said this election would be a referendum on the current leadership's positions on climate change, the results suggest that either voters don't care as much about the issue compared to others or they prefer less aggressive measures, as the current leadership is pursuing," Ms Harder wrote.

AAP

Mr Trump had spoken with Mr Morrison and congratulated him, the White House said.

"The two leaders reaffirmed the critical importance of the long-standing alliance and friendship between the United States and Australia, and they pledged to continue their close cooperation on shared priorities," it said.

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The New York Times described how "the conservative victory also adds Australia to a growing list of countries that have shifted rightward through the politics of grievance, including Brazil, Hungary and Italy.

"Mr Morrison's pitch mixed smiles and scaremongering, warning older voters and rural voters in particular that a government of the left would leave them behind and favour condescending elites."

AAP

Pre-election polls had tipped the ALP would win the federal election and leader Bill Shorten would be the next prime minister.

"I have always believed in miracles," Mr Morrison told supporters on Saturday night.