MUSCAT/WASHINGTON: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a cable of congratulations to Donald Trump on the occasion of him being elected as a new President of the United States of America.
In his cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere congratulations to President-elect Trump, wishing him success in leading the US people towards further progress and welfare, as well as promoting efforts to spread peace and stability in all countries of the world. His Majesty also wished the cooperation and investment relations between Oman and the US further progress and expansion in a manner that serves the joint interests.
Earlier, Donald Trump was elected US president, capping a remarkable comeback four years after he was voted out of the White House and ushering in a new American leadership.
RHETORIC
Trump, 78, recaptured the White House on Wednesday after a campaign marked by rhetoric that deepened the polarisation in the country, prevailing after two attempts on his life and a late decision by Democrats to run Kamala Harris when President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July.
The former president's victory in the swing state of Wisconsin pushed him over the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency. As of 8 am ET (13:00 GMT) Trump had won 279 electoral votes to Harris' 223 with several states yet to be counted, Edison Research projected.
He also led Harris by more than 5 million votes in the popular count.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," Trump said early on Wednesday to a roaring crowd of supporters at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida.
Trump’s political career had appeared to be over after his false claims of election fraud led a mob of supporters to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a failed bid to overturn his 2020 defeat.
But he swept away challengers inside his Republican Party and then beat Democratic candidate Harris by capitalising on voter concerns about high prices and what Trump claimed, without evidence, was a rise in crime due to illegal immigration.
Harris did not speak to supporters who had gathered at her alma mater Howard University. Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, told the crowd after midnight Harris would speak publicly later on Wednesday.
Republicans won a US Senate majority, but neither party appeared to have an edge in the fight for control of the House of Representatives where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
Major stock markets around the world rallied following Trump's victory, and the dollar was set for its biggest one-day jump since 2020.
JOBS AND ECONOMY
Voters identified jobs and the economy as the country's most pressing problem, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls. Many Americans remained frustrated by higher prices even amid record-high stock markets, fast-growing wages and low unemployment.
With the Biden administration taking much of the blame, a majority of voters said they trusted Trump more than Harris to address the issue.
Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and lower-income households hit hardest by inflation helped fuel Trump's election victory. His loyal base of rural, white and non-college educated voters again showed up in force.
World leaders from Europe to Asia congratulated Trump, whose victory will have major implications for US trade and climate change policies, the war in Ukraine, Americans' taxes and immigration.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed what he called Trump's commitment to "peace through strength," while the Kremlin said it would wait and see if his victory could help end the war in Ukraine more quickly. Trump said while campaigning that he could end the in 24 hours. MORE REPORTS ON P7
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