Taoiseach says ‘we shouldn’t jump to conclusions’ about US election result

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said “we shouldn’t jump to conclusions” about the result of the US presidential election.

Mr Martin said “it’s a fraught time for all those involved in the election”.

While the outcome of the election remains too close to call, Donald Trump has declared himself the winner and claimed that a fraud was taking place.

In a statement to supporters in the White House, Mr Trump said he would be going to the US Supreme Court. “We want all voting to stop,” he said.

Edward Luce: Bitter election leaves US facing two dangers

---

US presidential election: Five key takeaways so far

---

Biden vows to fight any Trump effort to take count to supreme court

---

Democrat candidate is first transgender person elected to US state senate

---

Meanwhile, Joe Biden said he was optimistic about the result of the election and urged his supporters to stay patient.

Counting is ongoing in key states this morning.

Mr Martin told Solidarity TD Mick Barry: "The United States is one of the oldest democracies in the world.

“It has always managed its elections in a peaceful and democratic way and I have no doubt that that will be the case on this occasion again.”

Mr Barry had accused president Donald Trump of “trying to steal the election”.

The Cork North Central TD said Mr Trump “now wants to go to the Supreme Court to stop the counting of ballots.”

He said “I have no faith in Joe Biden or the Democratic Party to stop this election from being stolen. It was their dreadful pro-big business, corporate campaign which let Trump get this close in the first place.”

Mr Barry said he supported calls by the Socialist Alternative Organisation in the United States “for mass demonstrations and civil disobedience if Trump tries to steal it.”

Pointing to the programme for government which says the State will argue strongly for democratic values and democracy, Mr Barry asked the Taoiseach if he would support the call for mass demonstrations and civil disobedience if Mr Trump “tries to steal the election”.

Mr Martin said that “first of all the election isn’t over and last time I was listening in earlier this morning it was going to be a very tight race. A lot of votes yet to be counted.”

Calling for people not to jump to conclusions he said it was a fraught time for all involved.

“It’s a tense time given how close it is so I think the sensible thing to do is to allow the electoral process in the United States to take its course and we will see perhaps later this week as to who actually wins that election.”

Earlier Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said it would be "unwise" for anyone to declare the result of the US election until all of the votes are counted, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said.

Mr Coveney said that the election is “most definitely not over.”

Speaking at Government Buildings for the launch of the Government’s Be Winter Ready campaign, Mr Coveney said he had watched the results of the election closely overnight.

“Like a number for people, I was up for most of the night. This is an extraordinarily important election for the US and for the world.

“The consequences of the election are significant.

“This election is not over and it won’t be over until all the votes are counted. So I think it is unwise for anyone regardless of who they are to be declaring the result before all the votes have been counted.”

He said that the US election is different to any other election as “the whole world is watching.”

“The United States is in many ways the most powerful democracy on the planet. Many people are watching and listening so let’s wait to see how it unfolds in the hours and days to come. But the election most definitely is not over.”

Mr Coveney said Ireland would respect the result regardless of who emerges victorious.

“That is what democracy is about, you respect the will of the people at the ballot box.”

“This may take a couple of days yet, into tomorrow or possibly Friday,” Mr Coveney said.

He further said that three or four states are still in play.