President-Elect Donald Trump Speaks

In a move that surprised pollsters and pundits worldwide alike, Republican Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States.

Following a concession call from Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Trump addressed a boisterous New York crowd assembled Wednesday morning to support him, comprised of people who spent much of the night celebrating and some chanting “lock her up.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting — complicated business,” Trump said to chants of “USA, USA.” He continued, “I’ve just received a call from Secretary Clinton. Hillary Clinton. She congratulated us — it’s about us — on our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard fought campaign. She fought very hard.”

But now, he said, “it is time for America to bind the wounds of division…. It is time for us to get together as one united people. 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 for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.”

Trump insisted his campaign represented a multiracial and diverse movement that would serve the American people: “I’ve spent my entire life in business, looking at the untapped potential in projects and people all over the world,” he said. “That is now what I want to do for our country.”

“The forgotten men and women of our country,” he said, “will be forgotten no longer.” He pledged to fix both our inner cities and our infrastructure, and to take care of our veterans.

Trump also said he would call upon the best and brightest Americans to help double U.S. growth to maintain the strongest economy in the world. He said his administration would be willing to work with any and all nations that are willing to work with the United States. “We’ll have great relationships,” he said. “Expect to have great, great relationships.”

“America,” he said, “will no longer settle for anything less than the best … We must reclaim our country’s destiny.”

He then thanked his late parents, his sisters, his brother Robert, his late brother Fred, Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Barron Trump. “I love you and I thank you,” he said, “especially for putting up with all of those hours — this was tough.”

He also thanked his staff and top supporters — many of whom likely will end up in his cabinet.

“We have got tremendously talented people up here,” he said in a nod to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions (a “great man,” Trump said), former GOP candidate Ben Carson (“another great man”), Mike Huckabee, and retired Army Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn.

He concluded, “Hopefully, you’re going to be so proud of your president. I love this country.”

As he ended his acceptance speech, the convention hall was filled with the sounds of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” In this case, Trump did.

Photo credit: Christopher Gregory/Getty Images