Donald Trump has reached the number of delegates needed to secure Republican presidential nomination.

On May 26, in North Dakota, Donald Trump thanked 15 unbound delegates from the state who he said “got us right over the top”.

Donald Trump defeated 16 other Republican contenders and according to the Associated Press has 1,238 delegates, one more than needed.

Republicans will finalize their nomination at a convention in July.

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While Donald Trump has the required amount of delegates, his nomination by a divided GOP is not yet secured.

Unbound delegates in the party are free to support the candidate of their choice.

If his nomination is confirmed, Donald Trump will face former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who are vying for the Democrat nomination.

On May 25, Donald Trump suggested going against Bernie Sanders in a TV debate in California before the state’s primary on June 7.

Bernie Sanders agreed to the debate in a tweet, saying: “Game on.”

On May 26, Donald Trump said: “The problem with debating Bernie? He’s going to lose.”

The New York billionaire also threw a barb in Hillary Clinton’s direction, saying: “Here I am watching Hillary fight and she can’t close the deal. That should be such an easy deal to close.”

Earlier, President Barack Obama said that world leaders “had good reason to be rattled” by Donald Trump, whose proposals he said were “either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude”.

In response to that, Donald Trump told reporters in North Dakota that rattling leaders of other countries was a “good thing”.

“[President Barack Obama] knows nothing about business,” Donald Trump said.

“Many of the countries in our beautiful world have been absolutely abusing us and taking advantage of us.

“We’re going to have great relationships with these countries but if they’re rattled in a friendly way that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”