Hillary Clinton urges supporters to give Trump a chance

Hillary Clinton has vowed to continue to defend the values of equal rights and the rule of law as she conceded defeat to Donald Trump.

US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pauses as she makes a concession speech after being defeated by Republican President-elect Donald Trump. Picture: AFP PHOTO / JEWEL SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

Addressing supporters in New York, Mrs Clinton urged them to accept the result and give her Republican rival the chance to serve as president with an open mind.

After seeing her dream of becoming the first woman president crushed, she admitted that defeat would feel painful for “a long time” to come.

But flanked by her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea, she said it was essential they continued to fight for the values at the heart of her campaign.

“We must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead,” she said.

“Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transition of power. We don’t just respect that, we cherish it.

“It also enshrines other things - the rule of law, the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity, freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish values too and we must defend them.”