Donald Trump has won the U.S. presidential election, media reported Wednesday, defeating Kamala Harris in a remarkable political comeback that has sent shockwaves around the world.
Trump’s victory was confirmed when he surpassed 270 electoral college votes by winning the state of Wisconsin, and he remains on course to claim all seven swing states.
The polarizing Republican’s victory follows one of the most divisive campaigns in modern U.S. history, made even more extraordinary by his unprecedented criminal conviction, a close-call assassination attempt, and stark warnings from a former chief of staff who labeled him a “fascist.”
“This is a political victory like our country has never seen,” Trump told supporters at a victory party in Florida.
Vice President Harris, who entered the race in July after President Joe Biden withdrew, campaigned from a centrist position, highlighting Trump’s controversial rhetoric and his use of openly divisive language.
But Trump’s intense warnings about immigration and his isolationist stance struck a chord with voters frustrated by the post-COVID economy and longing for change after the Biden years.
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Though the race was expected to be tightly contested, results came swiftly, delivering Trump a decisive victory with wins in critical swing states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Trump is now the first president in over a century to secure a non-consecutive second term. He also made history as the only person elected while facing a criminal conviction; he is scheduled to be sentenced in New York for fraud on November 26.
At 78, Trump is on course to become the oldest sitting president during his term, surpassing Biden, who will step down in January at the age of 82.
Following his victory, the U.S. dollar surged, Bitcoin hit record highs, and most equity markets advanced as traders anticipated the economic impact of Trump’s return to power.
However, his win is likely to bring significant upheaval. Trump has promised sweeping policy changes at home and abroad, signaling a return to his isolationist “America First” approach, which could have profound international effects.
He has repeatedly suggested he would end the conflict in Ukraine by pressuring Kyiv into territorial concessions with Russia, and his vow to deport undocumented immigrants en masse has raised serious concerns in Latin America.
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Trump also reenters the White House as a climate change skeptic, prepared to dismantle Biden’s environmental policies and potentially compromise global climate efforts.
Even before Trump’s victory was fully confirmed, leaders worldwide began sending congratulations, including allies such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who anticipates a reduction in U.S. military support post-Biden, expressed hope that Trump’s “impressive victory” would help bring a “just peace” to his country.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also extended his support, with the promise that Trump’s leadership would “strengthen” the alliance. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed optimism for continued cooperation.
For all his promises of political retribution and criticisms of global allies, Trump remains famously unpredictable when it comes to following through on his rhetoric.
His campaign rallies were filled with grievance and confrontational language but also generated popular online moments that highlighted his “everyman” image — like his McDonald’s drive-thru appearance and an impromptu press conference from a garbage truck.
He campaigned on tax cuts, deregulation, and the most significant tariffs on imports in nearly a century to drive growth and boost manufacturing, despite warnings about potential trade conflicts and higher consumer prices.
Although his main message often veered into aggressive language and inflammatory imagery, Trump’s hard-line anti-immigration stance and appeal to working-class voters facing economic struggles struck a chord.
When Harris entered the race in July as Biden’s replacement, she quickly closed Trump’s lead in polls. Her campaign, focused on unity, abortion rights, and warnings about the threat Trump posed to democracy, attracted widespread support and fueled a strong fundraising effort.
Despite her powerful campaign, Harris fell short of achieving what would have been a historic milestone as the first Black woman elected to the White House.
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