- Kellyanne Conway says Donald Trump Jr. "twirled" her in the air after Clinton called to concede in 2016.
- The ex-White House counselor, who managed Trump's 2016 campaign, described the scene in her new book.
- "We had defied the odds, denied the critics. Life changed in a flash," she wrote of the election's aftermath.
Most political observers saw Donald Trump as the underdog throughout the 2016 presidential race.
So when the reality television star won the presidency that November in large part by flipping the key swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, it was an unforgettable moment for the many Trump staffers who had worked tirelessly for the campaign.
And all eyes turned to former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who managed Trump's 2016 presidential campaign beginning that August and had just led him to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
In her newly-released memoir, "Here's the Deal," Conway wrote of the moments after The Associated Press officially called the race for Trump.
The longtime pollster wrote that one of then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's sons pointed out that her phone was ringing.
"It was Huma Abedin, Hillary's closest aide and confidante and vice chair of her presidential campaign," Conway wrote. "Huma certainly had expected to speak with me this evening, though she never in her wildest dreams imagined she'd be the one making the concession call."
She continued: "Trump and his family were in the corner, just a few feet away. I walked the phone toward them. 'Be quiet, everyone!' I shrieked, needing to make our euphoria official, as I handed Trump my phone."
On the other end of the line was the former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
"Hillary wants to speak with you," she told Trump. "Congratulations, Mr. President-elect."
She added: "Thinking those words and saying them were two very difference experiences. We had defied the odds, denied the critics. Life changed in a flash."
Conway then spoke of a gesture that was performed by Trump's eldest son as family members and campaign staffers were soaring high from the GOP victory.
"The instant the phone was out of my hand and into Donald Trump's, Don Jr. picked me up and twirled me in the air," she wrote. "We could overhear his father graciously complimenting his Democratic opponent .... He said he hoped he could rely on her to help in the days and months ahead."
After seeing virtually no pathway to victory in Michigan, Michigan, and Wisconsin and heeding the call from most major news networks, Clinton delivered a formal concession speech in Manhattan the day after the election.
However, the relationship between Clinton and Trump never recovered from the 2016 election and remains highly acrimonious.
Trump has repeatedly accused Clinton of spying on his campaign, while the former secretary of state railed against his policies during his White House tenure.