US election 2016: Republican party nominates Donald Trump for president

Donald Trump supporters celebrated their once unthinkable capture of the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday night as state delegates took turns to count up the votes from his remarkable sweep through the party’s 2016 primary election. Republican convention: Christie, Trump Jr and Carson ignite second night – as it happened Chris Christie’s attacks on ‘guilty’ Hillary Clinton stoke mob mentality while

Crossing the threshold of 1,237 votes, Trump officially became the Republican party’s nominee for president, as the stage in Cleveland was illuminated with a message proclaiming: “Over the Top”.

Later, a giant image of of the nominee was beamed into the arena, live via satellite link from Trump Tower in New York City. “I am so proud to be your nominee for president of the United States,” Trump said. “With your vote today, this stage of the presidential process has come to a close.

“Together we have received historic results, with the largest vote total in the history of the Republican party. This is a movement and we have to go all the way.”

In the three-minute address, Trump anticipated his big convention speech, rattling through a list of policies such as strengthening the border, “getting rid” of Isis, and “restoring law and order”.

“I’ll be discussing all that on Thursday night,” he said. “But together, most importantly, we’re going to make America great again.” The official confirmation of the 2016 nominee was in little doubt after a last-minute procedural rebellion was quickly killed off on Monday, but the ceremonial “call of the roll of states” served as a powerful reminder of the scale of his victory over 16 competing candidates with the largest-ever vote haul in a Republican primary. “It is my honour to throw Donald Trump over the top with 89 delegates,” said his son Donald Trump Jr as he announced the results from his home state of New York. “Congratulations, Dad, we love you.”

His father told the hall later: “Today has been one special day, watching my children put me over the top earlier ... I’ll never forget it. It’s something I will never forget.”