Trump cruises to Electoral College victory confirming he will become the 45th US President despite protests

The US Electoral College has confirmed as expected Donald Trump's election as the 45th president of the United States, unswayed by a last-ditch bid by die-hard opponents to bar the Republican's path to the White House.

Six weeks after his upset victory over the Democrat Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump sailed past the 270 votes needed to make his victory official, according to US media, clearing the way for him to succeed Barack Obama on January 20.