Everything you missed in the US election as Donald Trump looks set for White House

It's been a bleak night over in the US, with people around the world waking up to the devastating news that Donald Trump may be on the brink of returning to the White House

06 Nov 2024, 05:53 by Dave Burke · The Mirror

People around the world are waking up to the devastating news that Donald Trump may be on course for the White House after a series of early boosts.

Kamala Harris's path to the White House narrowed overnight as the convicted felon won in North Carolina and Georgia. These are two of the seven crucial swing states where the race is likely to be close.

Mr Trump pulled ahead as results came in from solidly pro-Republican states including Florida, Texas and Alabama. It comes amid grim warnings that a second Trump term could be even more dangerous than the first, and will have a chilling impact to world security.

Depressingly the New York Times projected Mr Trump had an 89% chance of victory shortly before 5am UK time. It estimated he would win 299 electoral college votes - he needs 270. And he could even win the popular vote, eclipsing his 2016 election win.

Voters gather at the Rockerfeller Centre in New York as results start to roll in( Image: Getty Images)

North Carolina sets off a bleak night by going for Trump

Disaster struck early as key battleground state North Carolina opted for Donald Trump.

It is a huge blow to the Harris campaign, who is now reliant on more positive news from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin.

And Georgia then makes things even worse

Donald Trump has also won Georgia, according to new projections issued shortly before 6am UK time. It handed the Republican his second swing state of the night.

Securing the state takes him one step closer to the White House. It means he is on on 246 electoral college votes, and needs 270 to win the presidency.

As the night goes on, there is increasing optimism in the Trump camp.

Trump locked in talks with Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago

Donald Trump chatting to billionaire rabble rouser Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago

Pictures from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida show him locked in conversation with billionaire tycoon Elon Musk.

The divisive Twitter/X owner has been a key figure in the election campaign, making bizarre appearances at Trump rallies. He's also been busy sharing far-right conspiracy theories.

It would be bad news for the UK if Musk is close to the White House administration. In recent weeks he's claimed the country is on course for civil war and launched a string attacks on the British Government.

Harris path to victory 'getting narrower and narrower'

Things are looking increasingly bleak for Kamala Harris( Image: Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Republicans Abroad has said Democrats are on course for a “shellacking” and that Kamala Harris’ path to victory is “getting narrower and narrower”.

Sara Elliot told Times Radio: “I think that we will probably know the winner before 6am London time tonight. It does not look like it’s going to be close at all.

“New York Times has just predicted that Donald Trump will win the popular vote in addition to the electoral college. And he looks slated to win not only the Sun Belt, but the Blue Wall as well. This is what we would call in America a shellacking, a thumping.

“It is definitely not what we expected in some ways, being that the polls were as close as they are.”

She continued: “Her just path to victory is getting narrower and narrower, and it doesn’t look possible."

Meanwhile Kamala Harris embraced Katy Perry

Kamala Harris with pop star Katy Perry( Image: katyperry/Tiktok)

The pair hug in a last-minute drive to get voters out( Image: katyperry/Tiktok)

Kamala Harris looked pretty pleased after getting a last-minute endorsement from pop star Katy Perry.

The star appeared at a rally in Pittsburgh as she gave her backing to the Democratic hopeful. Ms Harris has been miles ahead of her rival in securing celebrity support, but the overnight results suggest that may not have been enough to propel her to the Presidency.

Boris Johnson gets a brutal dressing down on live TV

Shamed former PM Boris Johnson has been told he "brought Trump-like behaviour to Britain" when he was in charge in a brutal TV exchange.

Journalist Emily Maitlis told him: "You started importing that Trump like behaviour into Britain when you were Prime Minister."

She said he had aped Trump's "disregard for institutions, his disregard for the rule of law" and his "denialism".

Ms Maitlis said this was shown by his petulant response to the Parliamentary Standards Committee. "This is all Trump like behaviour," she said. Mr Johnson responded: "I disagree profoundly."

Man says he voted to stop his girlfriend breaking up with him

Brian Flores said he only voted to stop his girlfriend breaking up with him( Image: CNN)

A TV interview went viral after a man said he only voted when his girlfriend threatened to break up with him if he did not back Ms Harris.

In a viral interview with CNN, Brian Flores said he was not going to vote, but that a threat from his girlfriend made him reconsider. Brian, who cast his ballot in Charlotte, North Carolina, told the CNN reporter he voted for Harris.

"And tell me how you came to this decision," the reporter asked Brian. He replied: "So, I wasn't going to vote at all until my girlfriend was blowing up my phone telling me to go vote.

"And if I didn't, she was going to break up with me. So, now I'm here."