Trump clinches GoP 2016 US presidential nomination
Updated : 08:59
Donald Trump received overnight the US Republican Party´s nomination to be the next president of the United States .
He will face off against his Democratic Party rival, ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on 8 November.
Trump, a former real estate magnate and TV personality, had proven to be a divisive personality, opening a rift inside his own party.
"Such a great honor to be the Republican Nominee for President of the United States. I will work hard and never let you down! AMERICA FIRST!", Trump told his nearly 10m follower via his Twitter account following the news.
Among the chief criticisms of the 70-year old billionaire was the fact that he had never held public office previously.
His rival was set to be nominated at the Democratic Party´s national convention due to be held on the following Monday in Philadelphia.
Trump meanwhile was expected to formally accept the nomination on 21 July, the last day of the Republican convention.
Of interest, on Monday Reuters cited Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey, and the head of Trump´s White House transition team, as having said he had urged Trump to push for changes to civil service laws in the US so as to be able to fire federal government employees he believes were camouflaged political appointees.