Sweep of swing states rubs salt in Democrats’ wounds as Trump prepares to meet Biden

Trump to visit Oval Office on Wednesday as Biden says he will ensure a peaceful and orderly transition'

Donald Trump was declared the winner in Arizona early on Sunday, completing the Republicans' clean sweep of the so-called swing states and rubbing salt in Democrats' wounds as it was announced that the president-elect is scheduled to meet with Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the presidential handover.

In a national campaign that was projected as being extremely close but he ended up winning handily, the result in Arizona gives Trump 312 electoral college votes, compared with Kamala Harris's 226. The state joins the other Sun belt swing states - Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina - and the three Rust belt states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in voting Republican. All were expected to be extremely competitive but all went for Trump, though by fairly close margins.