Trump's Republican Party have gained control of the presidency and the Senate, but control of the House of Representatives is still unclear - though the Republicans are leading.

The Republicans are projected to win 211 seats, seven short of the 218 threshold needed for a majority. By comparison, the Democrats are projected to win 200.

There are still 24 seats left to be called and counting is continuing in those final races.

If the Republicans do win the House, it means they will have the majority to pass their legislation through the different levels of government without needing support from the Democrats or independent representatives.

Americast: Why Trump won and why Harris lostpublished at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November

10:44 GMT 8 November

As Republicans celebrate Donald Trump’s historic sweep of the US election, Democrats are reckoning with how Kamala Harris failed to mobilise support.

This week's Americast looks at what went right and wrong - and questions if there a fundamental shift among American voters that goes beyond politics.

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump has criticised the tens of billions of dollars spent by the US on supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia - and has pledged to end the conflict "within 24 hours" through a negotiated deal. He has not said what he thinks either side should give up.

Trump's victory has thrown into question the future of American financial support to Kyiv, with European leaders insisting the West needs to remain united going forward:

• Ireland's Taoiseach Simon Harris said that "the US election does not change European values" around international law and territorial integrity, and that EU must stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes
• European Council president Charles Michel said he was convinced that all European leaders want to strengthen the ties with the US and that they want to "cooperate with him in all fields including on Ukraine"
• Meanwhile, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said the war could end "easily" if Trump takes a "solution-based approach"
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says he believes that the US will "quit" the war in Ukraine, and warned that Europe will not be able to pay for it without American funding, describing conflict as a "lost war"

Image source, Reuters

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says European leaders will work with Donald Trump after he is inaugurated in January.

Scholz adds the European Union must remain strong in light of conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

"We will continue to work well with the future American president. And the question of how this can be achieved has been the subject of our discussion," Scholz says.

"One question is quite clear. Together as the European Union, as Europeans, we must do what is necessary for our security," he adds.

Sam Cabral
Reporting from Washington DC

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, Republicans have taken the Senate back from Democrats and the House is still up for grabs.

For our UK readers, it’s time for another round of US political jargon explained.

• Congress: The US’s legislative body, which is split into the 100-member upper chamber called the Senate and the 435-member lower chamber called the House of Representatives. The Senate is currently controlled by Democrats, while Republicans are currently in charge of the House
• Supreme Court: It’s the highest court in the United States, with nine justices who preside over it. They hear challenges to lower court decisions and resolve contentious legal questions, usually issuing rulings for the year in late spring or early summer. Justices are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Currently, six justices were nominated by a Republican and three by a Democrat. They are appointed for life.
• Presidency: The president is the head of the executive branch of government. The president is also the head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. They can sign or veto legislation enacted from Congress, and hold the position for a four year term.

For context: Power is split into three different branches of government – the executive (the president and their cabinet), the judiciary (the Supreme Court) and the chambers of the United States Congress.

• Read our correspondent Katty Kay explain how the balance of power in the House will shape the next few years

Image source, Reuters

Media personality Megyn Kelly says podcasts played a major role in Trump's election.

Speaking to our colleagues at Radio 4's Today programme, the host of The Megyn Kelly Show podcast says the format "saved America" and was instrumental to the campaign.

Podcasts "reported on Trump honestly in a way that counterbalanced the misinformation that was being put out about him at every turn by the mainstream so-called media”, she says.

When asked about the legacy of mainstream media, Kelly says Trump has "revived" them, but said they are dying. "Let me put it to you this way: CNN on election night, I think had 4 million viewers. You know who else had 4m viewers on election night? I did," she says.

CNN declined a request for comment from the Today programme. CNN had 4.7 million viewers on election night. and Kelly's special has had 4.1 million views on YouTube.

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been reporting, there's just one state left to call to bring this election fully to an end – but the political calendar is still chock full ahead of Trump’s formal inauguration as president early next year.

Unlike in the UK, American president-elects don't assume the role immediately after the vote. Here are a few dates for your diary if you want to follow along with what's coming up next.

• 17 December: Electors vote in their states - if you're looking for a reminder, you can glance over our explainer on the electoral college system
• 20 December: Funding for government services expires. This follows the approval of a three-month funding extension to avoid a shutdown , external
• 3 January: First meeting of the119th Congress. Representatives and senators will be sworn in
• 6 January: Congress counts the electoral votes and subsequently confirms the new president
• 20 January: Inauguration day - the new president and vice-president will be sworn in. Members of the public will be able to get free tickets to watch this in-person

Whilst we know who the next US president will be, there's one state that's keeping us hanging... Arizona.

With 74% of votes counted, Donald Trump currently has 52.5% and Kamala Harris has 46.6%.

News organisations have called the results for other states - like Nevada and California - despite counting still going on, so why's it taking so long in Arizona?

State law does not permit a county to finalise their election results until 11 November at the earliest, according to Clean Elections, external. It says this is to "protect" accuracy and integrity of the count.

KOLD News 13, a local affiliate of the BBC's US partner CBS news, reports that election officials have been working day in and day out, counting and verifying ballots.

“They are running those ballots through signature verification, and then they are sending them to a bipartisan board who opens them up together," Gina Roberts, the voter education director with the Arizona Clean Elections Commission, told the news channel, external.

"They make sure the ballot isn’t damaged. They process those ballots, and then they send them to tabulation,” Roberts added.

Image source, Reuters

In his first interview since his victory, president-elect Donald Trump said there is "no price tag" for his mass deportation plans.

Speaking to NBC News yesterday, he said:

• His first priority would be to make the border "strong and powerful", and his administration would have “no choice" but to carry out mass deportations - here’s how it might work
• His immigration policy is part of the reason he secured the win, Trump said, and voters were looking for a candidate to “bring common sense” to the US
• Trump also noted how his campaign attracted more diverse voters this election - you can read more on that here
• His phone calls with Vice-President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden following the election were "very respectful both ways"
• He has not yet spoken to Russia’s President Putin, but added: "I think we’ll speak" - you can see Putin reacting to Trump's win below

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump has named campaign chief Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, the most senior unelected position in the White House.

In his victory speech, Trump said she "just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history" and "is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected".

Here's what we know about the woman the Republican president-elect referred to as the "ice maiden":

• Less than a year after Wiles started working in politics, she joined Ronald Reagan’s campaign ahead of his 1980 election
• In 2010, she helped turn Rick Scott, a then-businessman with little political experience, into Florida’s governor in just seven months. Scott is now a US senator
• Wiles met Trump during the 2015 Republican presidential primary and became the co-chair of his Florida campaign. He went on to win the state over Hillary Clinton in 2016
• Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who put her in charge of his successful race two years later, described Wiles as “the best in the business”
• The 67-year-old grandmother - who is the daughter of late American football player and broadcaster Pat Summerall - has described herself as coming from a "traditional" political background

You can read more about Wiles's life and career here.

Image source, Getty Images

Nada Tawfik
Reporting from Washington

Image source, Getty Images

When Donald Trump delivered his victory speech on election night, one of the people he turned to on stage and credited for his win was Susie Wiles.

The 67-year-old long-time political strategist liked to stay in the background, he said.

Now the woman who he nicknamed “ice maiden”, and who once worked in the Reagan administration as a scheduler, will hold one of the top jobs in the White House.

She will make history as the first woman to hold the title of chief of staff - a pivotal role which will see her advising him on policy and day-to-day operations.

In a statement, Trump said Wiles had been an integral part of his campaigns and described her as tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired and respected.

In his first term, the former president went through four chiefs of staff.

This time around, he’s looking to appoint loyalists to carry out his agenda.

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome back to our rolling coverage of the fallout from the US presidential election. If you're just joining us now, here are some key updates:

• In the last few minutes, CBS News - the BBC's US partner - has projected Trump will win Nevada, taking his electoral college tally to 301 over Kamala Harris's 226
• Trump has named key campaign aide Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff - she will be the first woman to have held the role

• Trump is reportedly considering Florida Senator Marco Rubio and former director of national intelligence Richard Grenell as potential secretaries of state
• It remains unclear who will control the House of Representatives, with dozens of races still not called
• The Republicans are currently on track to secure 211 seats - just seven away from the 218 needed for a majority

• Earlier, president Joe Biden promised a smooth tranisition of power to Trump, calling on Americans to "accept the choice the country makes"

Donald Trump is on course to win Nevada and increase his margin of victory, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

With those six electoral college votes, the president-elect's tally now stands at a projected 301.

The state was one of seven identified as key targets for both campaigns.

Six of those battleground states have now been called for Trump, with just Arizona - where only three quarters of the votes have been counted - left.

Image source, Gett

US President Joe Biden has no plans to pardon his son Hunter, the White House press secretary said on Thursday.

Karine Jean-Pierre told a press briefing she had been "asked that question multiple times and our answer stands - no".

Hunter Biden was convicted of three gun charges in July after a jury found he lied about his drug use on a background check when he purchased a handgun.

The president's second son has also pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges over failing to pay at least $1.4m (£1m) in income tax between 2016 and 2019.

He is due to be sentenced in both cases in December, just weeks before his father leaves office.

With his son potentially facing a lengthy jail sentence, President Biden could use his powers to pardon him for both conviction before he leaves office - but the White House has made clear he doesn't intend to do so.

Image source, Reuters

The White House and Senate are a done deal - but control of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the US Congress, is still up for grabs.

As things stand, Trump's Republican Party is projected to win 211 seats, seven short of the 218 threshold needed for a majority. By comparison, the Democrats are projected to win 199.

There are still 25 seats left to be called either way and counting is continuing in those final races.

If Republicans retain control of the House, it would mean they have enough votes to pass legislation in both legislative chambers. That would give Donald Trump far more scope to push his agenda through.

The Democrats are still hoping they can secure a consolation prize from a bruising election night and take control of the House - and with it, a potential way to frustrate some of Trump's plans.

However, election analysts at CBS, the BBC's US news partner, say the race is "leaning" towards the Republicans.

That doesn't mean Trump's party is definitely going to complete a hattrick of victories - but it does mean it could be heading that way.

We already know the Republicans are going to take control of the Senate but counting is continuing in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Maine and Nevada.

In Arizona, Democrat Ruben Gallego is leading over former television anchor and staunch Donald Trump supporter Kari Lake by just under 2%. If elected, Gallego - a former Iraq War veteran - will be the first Latino US senator from Arizona, where 74% of the votes have been counted so far.

In Nevada, the race remains too close to call, with 91% of the vote counted. Incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen is leading Republican Sam Brown by just under 1%.

Some 98% of the votes have already been counted in Pennsylvania, which is leaning towards Republican Dave McCormick, according to CBS. As it stands, he is leading by just 0.5% over the incumbent Democrat Bob Casey, who is at 49%.

In Maine, independent candidate Angus King is well in the lead with 52.4%, well over his Republican rival Demi Kouzounas who is at 34.3%. The state uses ranked voice voting, which makes the race harder to call.

Image source, Getty Images

Florida Senator Marco Rubio is among those being considered for the role of secretary of state in Donald Trump's new administration, two unnamed sources familiar with the process told CBS.

(NB: The US Secretary of State is a role similar to foreign secretary or foreign minister in other countries).

The BBC's US news partner also reported Richard Grenell, who briefly served as Trump's acting director of national intelligence during his first presidency, is in the running.

Rubio ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination ahead of the 2016 election. The pair repeatedly clashed in public, with Trump referring to Rubio as "little Marco", while the Florida senator mocked the eventual president's "small hands".

Rubio has since become a staunch campaigner for Trump and appeared with him on the campaign trail in recent weeks. He was touted as a possible running mate but lost out to JD Vance.

Grenell is another vocal Trump loyalist. He held a junior role under George W Bush and advised Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign on foreign policy. He also served as Trump's ambassador to Germany, before a short cabinet stint overseeing intelligence agencies.

We're continuing to see reaction from Republicans after Donald Trump announced his senior campaign advisor Susie Wiles has been appointed as his White House chief of staff.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham calls Trump's "first major decision" as president-elect a "hole in one, grand slam, touchdown, A+".

Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, says the appointment is "well deserved", calling her the "best".

Senator Rick Scott, who was Wiles's boss when she ran his successful campaign for Florida governor in 2010, calls her "a true leader, a trusted advisor, and a brilliant tactician".

We're still waiting to hear what the rest of Trump's team will look like when he takes office.

Image source, EPA

Democrats in the House of Representatives will hold their leadership elections on 19 November, according to congressional sources speaking to CBS.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who represents a district in New York, is expected to keep his seat for the next two years.

If Democrats win a majority in the House, Jeffries would likely become the next Speaker of the House - but as we've been reporting today, that outcome is far from certain.

Image source, Getty Images

Republicans have already taken control of the Senate but the race for the House of Representatives is still up in the air. Every seat in the House was up for election on Tuesday and dozens of races remain uncalled.

A party needs 218 seats for a majority. Before the election, Republicans had a narrow majority of 220, while Democrats controlled 212 seats. There were three vacancies.

Democrats will need to flip at least four Republican-held districts in the net tally of seats to win back the majority they lost in 2022.

Our US partners at CBS News has projected that Democrats will win at least 203 House seats, while Republicans are on track to secure 211 seats. Some races haven't been called yet.

In the latest CBS projections, Eugene Vindman retains a seat vacated by a Democrat in Virginia. Republicans Rob Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie nab two seats in Pennsylvania that had been previously held by Democrats.

Earlier in the day it was projected that Republican Derrick Van Orden has won re-election in a hotly-contested Wisconsin district. So have two vulnerable colleagues, Iowa's Zach Nunn and Virginia's Jen Kiggans. Ohio Democrats Emilia Sykes and Greg Landsman, and Connecticut's Jahana Hayes, have also won re-election. Republican Addison McDowell has flipped control in a newly re-drawn North Carolina district.

For context, the 100-member Senate and the 435-seat House together make up the two chambers of Congress, where both parties negotiate and advance legislation to the president's desk.