What did Donald Trump’s victory speech mean?

DONALD Trump’s victory speech was surprising. In his moment of triumph, the newly elected president showed us a side of him we’d never seen before.

Donald Trump. Pic: Getty/AFP

THE Donald Trump who emerged at 2:30am to celebrate his stunning win in the presidential election was barely recognisable.

Mr Trump’s victory speech was understated, mature and conciliatory. There was no gloating in his moment of triumph. Not a single gratuitous insult. It all bore little resemblance to the bitter diatribes that had typified Mr Trump’s campaign.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business. Complicated business,” Mr Trump joked after arriving at the podium.

“I just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us — it’s about us — on our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, 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 her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.”

President-elect Donald Trump is suddenly the uniter-in-chief. Pic: AFP

That praise for Ms Clinton was so far removed from Mr Trump’s criticisms of her during the last 18 months that it was scarcely believable. This is a guy who repeatedly said “Crooked Hillary” should be in jail, and who stoked chants of “lock her up” at his rallies.

The surprising new message of unity continued throughout the speech.

“We have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say that it is time for us to come together as one united people,” Mr Trump said.

“I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans.

“For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help, so we can work together and unify our great country.”

Republican President-elect Donald Trump. Pic: AFP

This speech raises so many questions. Is Mr Trump finally pivoting to a more presidential tone, realising the job will constrain him? Or will he quickly revert to his cantankerous campaign persona when the nice words aren’t on a teleprompter in front of him?

Plenty of people are hoping it’s the former, but expecting the latter.

“Trump has always been level-headed when he’s winning. He’s always been good at turning around and praising those he’s savaged,” writes National Review’s Charles Cooke.

“The test will come when someone writes or says or tweets something critical of him, and he feels a need to respond ... It’s at that point that Trump is going to have to prove that he can rise above it all. Does he have it in him? I’m not sure.”

We’ll find out soon enough. Barack Obama is still President until January 20, when Mr Trump will take the Oath of Office and move into the White House. Yesterday, he promised not to let his supporters down.

“Ours was not a campaign, but rather, an incredible and great movement,” he said.

“It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religious backgrounds and beliefs who want and expect our government to serve the people — and serve the people it will.

“Working together, we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and renewing the American dream ... It’s going to be a beautiful thing.

“The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.”

Mr Trump’s wife, Melania, and eldest daughter, Ivanka. Pic: AFP

Mr Trump said the “movement” he’d started was “just beginning”, and implied he could seek reelection four years from now.

“It’s been what they call a historic event, but to be really historic we have to do a great job. And I promise you I won’t let you down,” he said.

“I look very much forward to being your president, and hopefully after the end of two years or four years or maybe even eight years, you will say that was something that you were really very proud to do. And I can only say that while the campaign is over, our work, or this movement, is really just beginning.

“Hopefully, you’ll be so proud of your president. You’ll be so proud.”

In his moment of victory, Mr Trump managed to look and sound more presidential than he had done at any point during the long campaign. Hopefully he will live up to that promise.