Donald Trump defeated his rival, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, by winning 277 electoral votes, and securing his spot as the United States’ 47th president, according to Fox News and AP.

Harris secured 224 votes.

The Republican candidate also won key swing states, including North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, as well as other states such as Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Utah, Montana, Kansas, Iowa, and Idaho.

The US has 538 electors and to win the presidency, the candidate must secure a minimum of 270.

“I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president.

“I will fight for you, your family and your future every single day. I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body.

“I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America,” CNN reported him as telling his supporters in Florida.

Trump was first elected president in 2016, defeating former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

In 2020, he was defeated by Democrat Joe Biden, who served as vice-president under Barack Obama.

The win would make Trump the only US president to serve non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland, who served two terms in the late 1800s.

Kamala Harris

Until July, Trump had been running against incumbent Biden, who was seeking a second term.

After doing poorly in a June debate against Trump, Biden faced pressure to bow out from the race, which he did weeks later, endorsing his vice-president, Harris.

World leaders laud Trump's win

Al Jazeera reported several world leaders congratulating Trump on his victory.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “ready to work together as we have done for four years… with respect and ambition, for more peace and prosperity”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Trump “on history’s greatest comeback”.

Austria Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he looks forward to “further expanding and strengthening our transatlantic relations to successfully address global challenges together”.

Americans gather in KL for tense US presidential polls watch

Americans gather in KL for tense US presidential polls watch

US voters set to cast ballots for new president

US voters set to cast ballots for new president