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November 9, 2016

Donald Trump Elected President of the United States

Use this PBS NewsHour video, article and questions to catch students up on the results of the 2016 election.

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* A two minute clip of the speech is available here https://youtu.be/7BYU70OkHpY

Essential question

Given the close outcome of the race, what do you think President-elect Trump will focus on in the coming months?

Republican Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States Tuesday in a surprising victory that defied many experts’ expectations.

Early polls had predicted Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton as the victor in Tuesday’s race, but as repeated battleground states fell to Trump Tuesday night it became clear that the reality star and businessman, viewed as a political outsider from the beginning, would win.

“To all Republicans, Democrats and independents across the nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people,” Trump told supporters gathered at a hotel in Manhattan to watch the results of the race. “I pledge to every citizen of our land, that I will be president of all Americans.”

As of early this morning, Clinton had reportedly called Trump to concede but had made no public statement.

At 6 a.m., the numbers showed Trump with a total of 289 electoral votes while Clinton held 216. The national popular vote was a virtual tie between the two candidates.

Key terms

Electoral College — a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

poll — collection of opinions on a subject, taken from either as elected or a random group of persons, as for the purpose of analysis

exit poll — a poll of people leaving a polling place, asking how they voted

PBS NewsHour Classroom

PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.

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