Trump swipes at 'fake news media' during US midterm elections result event

A predicted Republican "red wave" appeared to have become a ripple as Democrats clung on in key races in the US midterm elections.

Democrats flipped a key senate seat while a number of Trump-backed candidates appeared to be heading for defeat.

Republicans still looked set to overturn a narrow Democrat majority in the House of Representatives, but projections of a big win appeared not to have materialised.

The fate of the US Senate, which is currently split 50-50 still hung in the balance with several races too close to call.

There had been predictions that the vote would be a wholesale rejection of Joe Biden's presidency by the American people, and that Republicans would easily win back control of both chambers in Congress.

But, as early results came in, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: "Definitely not a Republican wave, that is for darn sure."