The Republican Party has won a majority in the US House of Representatives, US television networks have projected, completing their clean sweep of Congress which will hand President-elect Donald Trump vast legislative power.
CNN and NBC projected the Republicans would retain control in the 435-seat House, after seizing control of the Senate from Democrats, and Mr Trump's defeat of Kamala Harris for the presidency.
Republicans' lock on power in Washington DC will allow Mr Trump to pursue an aggressive agenda of tax cuts for businesses, workers and retirees that will test his party's often-aired goal of reining in the government's $35 trillion in debt.
Early priorities are expected to include extending Mr Trump's 2017 tax cuts, funding the wall along the US-Mexico border, cutting unspent funds allocated by Democrats, shutting down the Department of Education and curbing the powers of agencies including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to Republican politicians.
Republican leaders view those priorities as a first step toward ensuring buoyant economic and job growth for the country, as well as tighter control over immigration.
However, Mr Trump's agenda threatens to sink the US government trillions of dollars further into debt as its borrowing costs climb, posing a challenge for Republicans who have long proclaimed the need to reduce a deficit that topped $1.83 trillion in fiscal 2024 with interest on the debt exceeding $1 trillion for the first time.
A majority of Americans - 62% - believe Mr Trump's policies will drive the national debt higher, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed 7 November.
Trump nominates Republican Matt Gaetz for attorney general
Meanwhile, Mr Trump said he has nominated Republican Representative Matt Gaetz to be attorney general.
Mr Trump said he is nominating Republican Senator Marco Rubio to be his secretary of state.
"He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friendto our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back downto our adversaries," Trump said in a statement.
Mr Trump named former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who has opposed US support for Ukraine and met Syria's president Bashar al-Assad, as his incoming Director of National Intelligence.
The Republican president-elect said Ms Gabbard, a veteran and one-time Democratic White House contender, would "bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community".
Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy "will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies," the US President-elect said in a statement.
'Welcome back' - Trump meets Biden at White House
This afternoon, Mr Trump returned to the White House for the first time since winning last week's election.
He sat down for talks about the looming transfer of power with longtime political rival President Joe Biden.
"Welcome, welcome back," Mr Biden told Mr Trump at the start of their meeting in front of a roaring fireplace.
He promised Mr Trump a smooth transition of power and to do all he could "to make sure you're accommodated."
"It'll be as smooth as it can get," Mr Trump said.
It was a sharp contrast to the criticism the two men have hurled at each other for years.
Their respective teams hold vastly different positions on policies from climate change to Russia to trade.
Mr Biden, 81, has portrayed the incoming leader as a threat to democracy, while Mr Trump, 78, has portrayed the president as incompetent.
Mr Trump made false claims of widespread fraud after losing the 2020 election to Mr Biden.
