Trump’s victory on Wednesday has enabled him secure U.S. presidency four years after he was voted out of the White House.
Vision Of Leadership
Tens of millions of voters embraced a vision of leadership that will test democratic institutions at home and relations abroad.
A Comfortable Victory
Trump, 78, recaptured the White House comfortably after a campaign marked by dark rhetoric that deepened the polarization in the country.
Assassination Attempts
He survived two attempts on his life.
The Democrats took a late decision to run Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race in July.
Speech By Harris
Harris, the U.S. Vice President, will concede the election to Trump at around 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), a source told Reuters.
Sources had earlier said her speech would happen at around 6 p.m.
Victory In Wisconsin
Trump’s victory in the swing state of Wisconsin pushed him over the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.
As of 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT), he had won 279 electoral votes to Harris’ 223 with several states yet to be
counted, Edison Research projected.
Victory Margin
He also led Harris by more than five million votes in the popular count.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump told a roaring crowd in Florida.
Low Approval Ratings
Trump was elected despite persistently low approval ratings.
Impeachment And Other Serious Charges
Impeached twice, he was criminally indicted four times and found civilly liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
In May, Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts.
He falsified business records to cover up hush money paid to a porn star.
Attempt To Overturn 2020 Defeat
Trump’s political career had appeared to be over after his false claims of election fraud led a mob of supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The mob made an unsuccessful attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat.
How Trump Capitalized On Voter Concerns?
But he swept away challengers inside his Republican Party and then beat Harris by capitalizing on voter concerns.
High Prices And Illegal Immigration
These pertained to high prices and a rise in crime due to illegal immigration.
Harris did not address supporters gathered at her alma mater Howard University on Tuesday evening.
U.S. Senate Majority
Republicans won a U.S. Senate majority, but neither party appeared to have an edge in the House of Representatives.
Notably, Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House Of Representatives.
Impact On Major Stock Markets
Major stock markets around the world rallied following Trump’s victory, and the dollar was set for its biggest one-day jump since 2020.
Trump’s win will have major implications for U.S. trade and climate change policies, the war in Ukraine, Americans’ taxes and immigration.
Netanyahu Congratulates Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump to congratulate him.
The two leaders discussed “the Iranian threat” and the need to work together for Israel’s security, Netanyahu’s office said.
“The conversation was warm and cordial,” it said.
Hamas Calls For An End To Blind Support For Israel
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, called for an end to the ” blind support” for Israel from the United States
Zelenskyy Welcomes Trump’s Commitment
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed what he called Trump’s commitment to “peace through strength.”
What Did The Kremlin Say?
The Kremlin said it would wait and see if his victory could help end the war in Ukraine more quickly.
Trump said while campaigning that he could end the war in 24 hours.
Jobs And Economy
Heading into the election, voters identified jobs and the economy as the country’s most pressing problem, according to Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls.
Many Americans remained frustrated by higher prices even amid record-high stock markets, fast-growing wages and low unemployment.
With the Biden administration taking much of the blame, a majority of voters said they trusted Trump more than Harris to address the issue.
Trump Improved His 2020 Performance
In counties across the U.S. – even many heavily Democratic ones – results so far showed Trump performed better than in 2020.
Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and lower-income households hit hardest by inflation helped fuel the victory.
Trump’s support among women, whose backing Democrats had counted on, improved from four years ago.
And his loyal base of rural, white and non-college educated voters again showed up in force, according to Edison Research exit polls.
If Trump wins the popular vote, he will be the first Republican presidential candidate to have done so since George W. Bush in 2004.
Tarrif Proposals
Trump’s tariff proposals could spark a fiercer trade war with China and U.S. allies.
Move To Reduce Corporate Taxes
His pledges to reduce corporate taxes and implement a spate of new cuts could balloon U.S. debt, economists say.
Mass Deportation Campaign
Trump has promised to launch a mass deportation campaign targeting immigrants in the country illegally.
He has said he wants the authority to fire civil servants he views as disloyal.
What Do Trump’s Opponents Fear?
His opponents fear he will turn the Justice Department and other federal law enforcement agencies into
political weapons to investigate perceived enemies.
A second Trump presidency could drive a bigger wedge between Democrats and Republicans on issues like race, gender, what and how children are taught, and reproductive rights.
Harris Falls Short
Harris fell short in her 15-week sprint as a candidate, failing to galvanize enough support to defeat Trump.
Trump’s Previous Term
Donald Trump occupied the White House from 2017-21, or to allay voters’ concerns about the economy and immigration.
A Danger To Democracy
Harris had warned that Trump wanted unchecked presidential power and posed a danger to democracy.
Nearly three-quarters of voters say American democracy is under threat, according to the exit polls.
Trump ran a campaign characterized by apocalyptic language.
Trump Called U.S. A Garbage Can For Immigrants
He called the United States a “garbage can” for immigrants, pledged to save the economy from “obliteration” and cast some rivals as the “enemy within.”
His diatribes were often aimed at migrants.
He said that the migrants were “poisoning the blood of the country,” or Harris, whom he frequently derided as unintelligent.
Unprecedented Campaign
A would-be assassin’s bullet grazed his right ear during a July campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
Another assassination attempt was thwarted in September at his Florida golf course.
Biden Exit Race
Barely eight days after the July shooting, Biden, 81, dropped out of the race.
Biden finally bowed to weeks of pressure from his fellow Democrats following a poor performance during his debate with Trump.
Campaign By Harris
Harris raced to mount her own campaign in a matter of weeks, rather than the typical months.
Mobilisation Of Funds
Her rise to the top of the ticket reenergized despondent Democrats.
She raised more than one billion USD in less than three months while erasing what had been a solid Trump lead in opinion polls.
Elon Musk’s Magic
Harris’ financial advantage was partly countered by the intervention of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.
Musk poured more than $100 million into a super PAC mobilizing Trump voters .
He also used his social media site X to amplify pro-Trump messaging.
Harris Warned Voters
As the campaign drew to a close, Harris increasingly focused on warning Americans about the perils of reelecting Trump,
She said that his former chief of staff and retired Marine Corps General John Kelly, had described Trump as a “fascist.”
Trump’s victory will broaden the fissures in American society, said Alan Abramowitz, a Political Science Professor at Emory University.
Trump And Vance
Trump and his incoming vice president, U.S. Senator JD Vance, are due to take office on Inauguration Day, January 20.
He promised roles in his administration to Musk and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., both avid supporters.