Trump delivers maiden address as U.S. President-elect

Trump, joined by large family members,  told a cheering crowd of supporters that `I just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us, it’s about us, on our victory and I congratulated her family on a very hard-fought campaign, I mean she fought very hard.

“Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time and we owe a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country, I know that very sincerely.

“Now, it’s time for Americans to bind the wounds of division and to get together.

“To all Republicans and Democrats and Independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It’s time.

“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 they 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 party.

“As I’ve said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of diligence, of hardworking men and women, who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their families.”

He said it was a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who wanted and expected the American Government to serve the people.

He added that “working together, we must begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and remolding the American dream.”

The president-elect pledged to ensure that every single American got the opportunity to realise his or her fullest potential, as well as rebuild infrastructure.

According to him, millions of Americans would be engaged as his administration would rebuild infrastructure in the country.

“We will embark upon a project of national growth and renewal. I will harness the great talents of our people and we will call upon the best and brightest to leverage their tremendous talents for the benefit of all.

“We have a great economic plan. We would double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world. At the same time, we will get along with all of the nations willing to get along with us.

“We expect to have great relations. No dream is too big, no challenge is too great; nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach. America will no longer settle for anything less than the best.”

Trump, while assuring the international community of fair dealings under his administration, also challenged Americans to “reclaim our country’s destiny and dream big.

“I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interest first, we will deal fairly with everyone, all people and all other nations.

“We will seek common growth, not hostility, partnership not conflict,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, had earlier addressed the cheering crowd after which he introduced Trump to the crowd.

Pence said “the American people have spoken and the American people have elected their new champion.

“America has elected a new president and it is almost hard for me to express the honour that I and my family feel that we will have the privilege to serve as the Vice President of the United States of America.

“I counted this moment deeply humbled, grateful to God for his amazing grace,” he said in the company of his wife and children.”

NAN reports that Trump, a businessman, made history as the first ever U.S. president without a military or government background.