Former President Donald Trump has reclaimed the US presidency four years after losing it. Millions of voters chose him for a leadership style that could challenge democratic norms and international relationships.
At 78 years old, Trump won the election convincingly after a campaign filled with dark messages that divided the country. His victory came after two threats on his life and unexpected changes in the Democratic Party when Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July.
Sources reported that Harris will concede the election to Trump around 4 p.m. (2100 GMT). As of 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT), Trump had already earned 279 electoral votes, surpassing the required 270, while Harris had 223 votes, with some states still counting their results.
Trump also led Harris by more than five million votes in the overall count. “America has given us a strong mandate,” he told a cheering crowd in Florida.
Despite having low approval ratings, being impeached twice, and facing several criminal charges, Trump’s return to power seemed unlikely after the Capitol riots fueled by his false election fraud claims in January 2021. However, he defeated Harris by tapping into voters’ worries about rising prices and crime, which he linked to immigration.
Harris did not speak to supporters at her university on Tuesday night but invited them back on Wednesday.
Republicans regained control of the Senate, but control of the House remained unclear. Stock markets across the globe surged after Trump’s win, and the dollar strengthened significantly.
Trump’s presidency will likely impact US policies on trade, climate change, the war in Ukraine, taxes, and immigration. He has warned of aggressive trade wars with China and has promised to deport many undocumented immigrants.
Globally, leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump and discussed security, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Trump’s tough approach.
Many voters pointed to jobs and the economy as their biggest concerns, with many feeling the pinch of high prices despite strong stock markets and low unemployment. Voters leaned toward Trump as they felt he could handle these issues better than Harris, who struggled to gain enough support.
Harris failed to rally voters in the short campaign after Biden withdrew, and nearly three-quarters of people believe that democracy in America is under threat. Trump’s campaign was filled with alarming rhetoric, portraying immigrants in a negative light.
Despite legal troubles, Trump is now only the second former president to win a second term. This could deepen the divides within American society, especially regarding issues like immigration, race, and government roles.
In this upcoming term, Trump intends to reshape government roles and staffing, including firing those perceived as disloyal. His administration may seek to prioritize personal loyalty over impartial governance, as he prepares to take office again on January 20, 2025.
