Donald Trump named Republican presidential nominee

Cleveland, July 20: The billionaire businessman Donald Trump was officially named the 2016 Republican Presidential nominee early on Wednesday.

Trump is scheduled to address the convention via remote from New York on Wednesday evening, but tweeted shortly after the vote. [Melania Trump addresses Day 1 of Cleveland Convention]

"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!"

His son Donald Trump, Jr., cast the votes for the New York delegation that put the billionaire businessman over the top of the 1,237 delegates he needed to clinch the nomination, as any talk of disruptive protest votes or walkouts dissipated, CNN reported.

"It is my honour to be able to throw Donald Trump over the top in the delegate count tonight with 89 delegates," Donald Jr. said, surrounded by three of Trump's other children -- Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany.

"Congratulations Dad, we love you."

An emotional Ivanka Trump told CNN's Dana Bash immediately after her father was confirmed as the Republican nominee, "It's unbelievable, it's surreal, I am so proud of my father."

"I have never underestimated my father, ever," Eric Trump said.

Donald Jr. was tearing up when he told Bash that putting his father over the top was "one of the more surreal moments of my life other perhaps than the birth of my children. To be able to do that is historic, its awesome."

"It's pretty real."

Earlier, an effort to place the name of Texas Senator Ted Cruz for nomination fizzled late on Tuesday afternoon.

Trump's name was put into the nomination by Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, an early supporter of the businessman, and was seconded by fellow early supporters New York Representative Chris Collins and South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster.

"We have gotten off course and the American people know it," Sessions said in his speech, warning that crime is rising, terrorist attacks are proliferating, and Congress is deadlocked, arguing that Trump is the only answer.

"The American voters heard his message and they rewarded his courage and his leadership with a huge victory in our primaries," Sessions said, drawing raucous cheers from Trump fans on the convention floor.

"He loves his country and he is determined to see it be a winner again," CNN quoted Sessions as saying. "Donald Trump is the singular leader that can get this country back on track. He has the strength, the courage the will to get it done."

Trump's roll call will be followed by the nomination and vote for Indiana Governor Mike Pence as the Vice Presidential nominee.

IANS