"The simple fact is this election is far from over," Trump said in a statement released just minutes after NBC projected that Biden had become president-elect.

"Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor," Trump claimed.

Trump vowed that as soon as Monday, his team will start "prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld."

Biden earlier Saturday had led Trump in NBC's tally of projected Electoral College votes, 253 to 214. The former vice president was pushed over the top when NBC projected that Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes would be awarded to him.

Trump had traveled to his private golf club in Sterling, Virginia, less than two hours before the race was called for his opponent.

Biden, in a statement released around noon Saturday, said he is "honored and humbled by the trust the American people have placed in me and in Vice President-elect [Kamala] Harris."