We Are Now All Rooting For Donald Trump's Success, Says Barack Obama

Congratulating President-elect Donald Trump on his election victory, President Barack Obama said the nation is now "rooting" for his success in uniting and leading the country and pledged to ensure a smooth transition for his successor.

"I know everybody had a long night. I did as well. I had a chance to talk to President-elect Trump last night at about 3:30 in the morning to congratulate him on winning the election and I had a chance to invite him to come to the White House tomorrow and to talk about making sure there is a successful transition between our presidencies," Obama said in his first remarks on the election results from the White House's Rose Garden.

Joined by Vice President Joe Biden, Obama said it is "no secret" that Trump and he have "some pretty significant differences".

"But remember eight years ago President (George) Bush and I had some pretty significant differences. But President Bush's team could not have been more professional or more gracious in making sure we had a smooth transition so that we could hit the ground running.

"One thing you realise is that the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency is bigger than any of us. So I have instructed my team ...to work as hard as we can to make sure this is a successful transition for the President-elect," he said.

"We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country. A peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy," he said.

Earlier Obama called Trump from his residence in the White House to congratulate him.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway also said Obama called Trump while he was speaking to his supporters in New York, and so Trump called him back after he left the stage.

She said the two leaders had a "very nice talk."

Conway said they would meet possibly tomorrow.

In a stunning result, billionaire businessman Trump beat seasoned politician Clinton in the knife-edge polls, defying the odds to become the 45th US President after starting off as a rank political outsider.

Obama during his speech acknowledged that everybody is "sad" when their side loses an election "but the day after we have to remember that we are all on one team".

In Trump's victory speech last night and in his phone conversation with him, Obama said he was "heartened" by remarks made by Trump in his speech that he wants what is best for the country.

"We are not Democrats first, we are not Republicans first.

We are Americans first, we all want what's best for this country. That is what I heard in Trump's remarks last night.

Thats what I heard in when I spoke to him directly and I was heartened by that.

"Thats what the country needs - a sense of unity, a sense of inclusion, a respect for our institutions, our way of life, rule of law and respect for each other."

Obama expressed hope that Trump maintains this "spirit" throughout the transition and "I certainly hope that is how his presidency has change to begin."

Obama said on the eve of the elections, he had said in a video message that irrespective of who won or lost, "the sun would come up in the morning. and that is one bit of prognosticating that actually came true. The sun is up."

Obama, who also spoke with Clinton, said "I could not be prouder of her. She has led an extraordinary life of public service, she was a great first lady, she was an outstanding senator from the New York and she could not have been a better Secretary of State."

He said he is "proud" of her and a lot of Americans look up to her.

In his message to the young people, some of whom would have got into politics for the first time and may be "disappointed", Obama said they will have to stay "encouraged" and not get "cynical".

"sometimes you lose an argument, sometimes you lose an election ..I lost elections before, Joe (biden) has, thats the way politics works sometimes. If we lose, we learn from our mistakes, we do some reflection, we lick our wounds, we brush ourselves off and w get back in the arena, we try even harder the next time," he said, adding that he hopes the "handoff" to Trump is well executed because "ultimately we are all on the same team."

(PTI)