US elections: We owe Donald Trump an open mind, chance to lead, says Hillary

New York: Hillary Clinton is speaking to her supporters in her first public remarks since her stunning defeat to Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

She had called Trump early Wednesday to congratulate him on his victory in Tuesday's election. Trump had acknowledged that he received a congratulatory call from Clinton after his win and praised her for her service and for a hard-fought campaign.

Hillary Clinton is delivered her final remarks of the presidential election after a devastating loss to Donald Trump. She urged her supporters to accept the results, saying they owe Trump an "open mind" and a "chance to lead."  She says American democracy depends on "peaceful transition of power."

Speaking to supporters Wednesday at a New York hotel, Clinton said the campaign has been "one of the greatest honors" of her life. She describes the outcome as "painful," but says the effort was not about her but "the country we love." Clinton took the stage to sustained applause. Ashen-faced aides sat in the front row as supporters in the audience sobbed at the emotional event.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine, says the defeated Democratic candidate has made history by paving the way for women to run for president. Speaking ahead of Clinton to a room of supporters and aides in New York Wednesday, Kaine prompted a standing ovation when he noted Clinton is leading in the popular vote in the race against Donald Trump.

He hailed Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton's loyalty to their staff, and praised their dedication. His voice shaking, he said that Clinton "knows the system we have. She's deeply in love with it and she accepts it."

Global stock markets and U.S. stock futures plunged early Wednesday, but later recovered, reflecting investor concern over what a Trump presidency might mean. The Dow Jones industrial average was flat after trading opened Wednesday.

President Barack Obama called Trump to congratulate him and invited the Republican to a meeting at the White House Thursday to discuss transition. Obama also called Clinton to convey his admiration for the "strong campaign she waged throughout the country," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

Obama planned a televised statement Wednesday on "what steps we can take as a country to come together after this hard-fought election season," the White House said.

Trump, who spent much of the campaign urging his supporters on as they chanted "lock her up," said the nation owed Clinton "a major debt of gratitude" for her years of public service. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said Obama and Trump had "a very nice talk" when the president called him.

Republicans also kept control of the US Congress. Television networks projected the party would retain majorities in both the 100-seat Senate and the House of Representatives, where all 435 seats were up for grabs.

Despite losing the state-by-state electoral battle that determines the US presidency, Clinton narrowly led Trump in the nationwide popular vote, according to US media tallies. It would mark the second time in 16 years that a Democratic candidate lost the presidency despite winning more votes than the victor. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore got more votes than Republican George W. Bush.