Americans have vowed to move to Australia to “escape” after Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election.
Shortly after the Republican leader declared himself the next president on Wednesday night (AEDT), US supporters of Democratic leader Kamala Harris took to X, formerly Twitter, to reveal her plans to leave her home country.
“If anyone has the ‘concept of a plan’ to move to Australia, I’m here waiting!” wrote one.
Another added: ‘So sick of this country. I’m moving to Australia.
A third wrote: “Now boarding boat to Australia to leave America forever, who’s boarding?” wrote another.
Aussies also weighed in, joking Americans could seek “refugee status”.
“Any American citizen who wants to escape from Trump and his gang of criminals is welcome to Australia,” said one.
Another added: “Australia stands ready to accept refugees from USA,” wrote another.
A third tried to be helpful by Googling the shortest distance between the US and Australia.
Many Americans have vowed to move to Australia to “escape” after Donald Trump’s (pictured with his wife Melania) claim to victory in the US presidential election
US supporters of Democratic leader Kamala Harris joked about moving to Australia (pictured, audience for election live stream in Sydney)
Several Democrat supporters were upset in Sydney on Wednesday night as they watched a live stream of the election (pictured, audience for the live stream of the election in Sydney)
‘For all my American friends who may no longer feel safe where they live. Australia is a good option to get that far away.
Australian presenter and comedian Dan Ilic also joked about the situation, writing: “That’s it… I’m moving to Australia.”
Several Democrat supporters were similarly upset in Sydney on Wednesday as they watched a live stream of the election.
Concerned pub-goers watched as the results trickled in, with some shedding tears as Trump gained traction in the polls.
Former President Donald Trump took the stage and declared victory early Wednesday morning local time, cementing an extraordinary political comeback.
Minutes earlier, news organizations called the 2024 presidential election for him in a stunning night for Republicans and devastating night for Kamala Harris.
“We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that no one thought were possible,” he said. And it is now clear that we have achieved the most incredible political.
The moment of truth came when Fox News called Pennsylvania, the biggest of the battleground prizes, followed by Wisconsin and then the entire race in his favor.
The Associated Press still hadn’t declared the election for Trump by 3 a.m. (local time), but he still claimed victory on stage with wife Melania, 18-year-old son Barron and his most loyal staff and supporters.
“It’s real,” yelled a young supporter who surged through the crowd as if it were a mosh pit, high-fiving friends and strangers alike.
Trump was joined on stage by family — including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who had been absent from the campaign — aides and political supporters.
He thanked his supporters and promised a golden age for the nation.
In inviting his candidate to the microphone, Senator JD Vance said the result marked a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes.
Trump declared himself the winner of the 2024 presidential election on Wednesday ngiht, AEDT (pictured, audience for an election live stream in Sydney)
Pub-goers in Sydney watched as the results trickled in, with some in tears as Trump gained traction in the polls (pictured, audience for an election live stream at Sydney’s Kent Street Hotel)
In his victory speech, Trump said: “We made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that no one thought possible,” (pictured, a Trump supporter in Sydney)
“I thank you for the confidence you placed in me,” he said, “and I believe we have just witnessed the greatest political comeback in American history.”
He was surrounded by supporters, friends and family at his home in Florida when he regained his crown.
He led them onto the stage at the Palm Beach County Convention Center where he gave his victory speech to hundreds more supporters who had waited hours to meet him.
“Most of all, I want to thank the millions of hardworking Americans across the country who have always been the heart and soul of this truly great movement,” he said.
‘We’ve been through so much together, and today you showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory that was truly…probably…like no other. This was something special.’
Trump used his speech to promise a positive vision.
“Together we will unlock America’s glorious destiny and we will achieve the most incredible future for our people.”
“It is time to put the division of the past four years behind us, it is time to unite. And we will try, we must try, and we will succeed in bringing us together… Success will bring us together, and we will start by putting America first.’
Hours before the polls closed, Trump claimed on his Truth Social site without evidence that there was “much talk of massive CHEATING” in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold.
It echoed his claims from 2020 about voter fraud in Democratic-controlled cities.
And that led to concerns that he and his team could be setting themselves up for a repeat of the legal and political challenges that ended with hundreds of his supporters storming the US capital.
“If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I’ll be the first to admit it,” Trump told reporters after voting Tuesday.
Roger Stone, longtime Republican provocateur and Trump ally, said he was mounting an extraordinary comeback, fueled by four indictments.
‘It is a story of perseverance. It’s a story of resilience and just grit,” he told the Daily Mail. ‘I mean, just grind it out’.
Kamala Harris’ victory party, meanwhile, was completely deserted by midnight.
As of 3.45am on Wednesday morning in Washington, the Harris camp had not reacted to the results as the Associated Press waited to make the final call (pictured, audience for an election live stream in Sydney)
Trump told supporters on Wednesday: “Together we will unlock the glorious destiny of America and we will achieve the most incredible future for our people” (pictured, audience for an election live stream in Sydney)
Australians joked they’d accept Americans as “refugees” (pictured, audience at a live election stream in Sydney)
Supporters react to the election results during an election night event for US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris at Howard University in Washington, DC
The campaign first told staffers to go home and then top Harris adviser Cedric Richmond came out and confirmed the vice president would not be speaking.
As of 3:45 a.m. Wednesday in Washington, the Harris camp had not responded to the results as the Associated Press waited to make the final call.
The reaction was swift from the network TV pundits who called it a “shellacking” for the Democrats.
