Americans threatening to leave and move to Australia after Donald Trump election win

Americans have vowed to move to Australia to ‘escape’ after Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election.

Shortly after the Republican leader declared himself the next president on Wednesday evening (AEDT), US supporters of Democratic leader Kamala Harris took to X, formerly Twitter, to reveal their plans to leave their home country.

“If anyone has the ‘concept of a plan’ to move to Australia, I’m here and waiting!” wrote one.

Another added: ‘So sick of this country. I’m moving to Australia.’

A third wrote: ‘Now boarding the boat to Australia to leave America forever. Who’s going on board?’ another wrote.

Aussies also joked that Americans could apply for ‘refugee’ status.

“Any American citizen who wants to escape Trump and his gang of criminals is welcome in Australia,” one person said.

A second added: “Australia stands ready to accept refugees from the United States,” wrote another.

A third tried to be helpful by googling the shortest distance between the US and Australia.

‘For all my American friends who may no longer feel safe where they live. Australia is a good option to get that far away.’

Australian host and comedian Dan Ilic also joked about the situation, writing: “That’s it… I’m moving to Australia.”

Several Democratic supporters were similarly angry in Sydney on Wednesday as they watched a livestream of the election.

Concerned pubgoers watched as the results trickled in, with some shedding tears as Trump gained popularity in the polls.

Former President Donald Trump took the stage and declared victory early Wednesday morning (local time), sealing an extraordinary political comeback.

Minutes earlier, news organizations called the 2024 presidential race an astonishing night for Republicans and a devastating night for Kamala Harris.

“We made history tonight for a reason, and the reason is that we overcame obstacles that no one thought possible,” he said. “And it is now clear that we have achieved the most incredible political result.”

The moment of truth came when Fox News called Pennsylvania, the biggest of the battleground prizes, followed by Wisconsin and then the entire race in his favor.

The Associated Press had still not called the election for Trump by 3 a.m. (local time), but he still claimed victory on stage, along with his wife Melania, 18-year-old son Barron and his most loyal staff and supporters.

“It’s real,” shouted a young supporter who ran forward as if it were a mosh pit, high-fiving friends and strangers.

Trump was joined on stage by family – including daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner who were absent from the campaign – aides and political supporters.

He thanked his supporters and promised a golden age for the nation.

Inviting his running mate to the microphone, Senator JD Vance said the result marked a remarkable turnaround in political fortunes.

“I thank you for the trust you placed in me,” he said, “and I believe we have just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America.”

He was surrounded by supporters, friends and family at his Florida home as he regained his crown.

He led them to the stage at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, where he delivered his victory speech to hundreds of other supporters who had waited hours to see him.

“Above all, I want to thank the millions of hardworking Americans across the country who have always been the heart and soul of this truly great movement,” he said.

“We’ve been through so much together, and today you showed up in record numbers to achieve a victory like truly… probably… like no other. This was something special.’

Trump used his speech to promise a positive vision.

“Together, we will unlock America’s glorious destiny and realize the most incredible future for our people.”

“It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us, it’s time to unite. And we’re going to try, we’ve got to try, and we’re going to be successful in bringing us together… Success is going to bring us together, and we’re going to start by putting America first.”

Hours before polls closed, Trump claimed without evidence on his Truth Social site that there was “a lot of talk about massive cheating” in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold.

It echoed his 2020 claims of election fraud in Democratic-controlled cities.

And it raised concerns that he and his team could be preparing for a repeat of the legal and political challenges that ended when hundreds of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

“If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I’ll be the first to acknowledge that,” Trump told reporters after voting on Tuesday.

Roger Stone, a longtime Republican provocateur and Trump ally, said he was on course for an extraordinary comeback fueled by four criminal charges.

‘It’s a story of perseverance. It’s a story of resilience and just perseverance,” he told Daily Mail. “I mean, just grind it out.”

Kamala Harris’ victory party, meanwhile, was completely deserted by midnight.

The campaign first told staff to go home, then Harris’ top adviser, Cedric Richmond, came out and confirmed that the vice president would not speak.

As of 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, the Harris camp in Washington had not responded to the results, as the Associated Press waited for the final call.

The backlash came swiftly from network TV pundits, who called it a “shellacking” for Democrats.